Home

Auto Repair

1. ccccssssceeseesseeesseeesseeeseeesseesseesseees 446 Caring for headliners cccccsscessceseeeeeesecsseceseeseceseesseesssesseesseeeees 446 Cleaning floor Mats sraa e cusd oo sean von Ran Laana 447 Cleaning inside the windows ccccsccssscesscssseeseesecesseeseeessesseeeseeaes 447 Remembering Those Final Touches ccccessscesseeeeseeeeseeeeseeceseeesseeeeees 447 Chapter 24 Bodywork Getting Rid of Dings Dents and Other Hard Knocks 000cecceeee cence eeeeees 449 Getting Rid Of RUSt i ssenari aea doses tee a oases 450 Checking FOr TUSt ves soseeds coesegs scssass E E N aN asa 450 Dealing with any rust you find eee ceceseesseesceeseeesseeseeseeenseeees 451 Undercoating to prevent rust cceccesccesscseesceesseeseeeseeeseesseeneeenes 452 Removing Small Dents and Dings cceceescesseesseeseesecesscesecsseesseenseeeees 453 Filling Small Dents and Holes 0 ccccscesssesseesseeeseseceeseeeseessecsseesseeeseeeees 454 Touching Up Your Paint JOD ccccecccsscsscsseesseesceseseeseeesecssecsseesseeeseeeees 455 Installing New Weatherstripping or Patching the Old eens 457 Dealing with Damaged Windshields cccsceessssseseeesseeseeeseesseeeseeeees 459 Turning to the Pros for Larger Repairs cscccessceesseeeseeeeseeeeseeesseeesees 459 Evaluating body shops cccssccesseceseeeeseeceseeceseeessseesseeesseeessseesnees 460 CHOOSING palts fcc esscccdyezd
2. Monthly Under the Hood Check In This Chapter Preventing 70 percent of the causes of highway breakdowns Checking the air filter accessory belts battery and hoses Dipping into fluid levels Looking at wiring wipers and tires ir Preso knows a few chronic tire kickers Before they get in and drive off these people habitually walk around their cars and kick the tires to make sure that they aren t flat The same people habitually open and close all the cabinet doors in the kitchen and check the gas jets every time they go past the stove You may laugh at them but they re probably rarely caught with flat tires open cabinets or leaking gas Why not learn from these folks and make a habit of checking the little things under the hood of your vehicle maybe not every time you drive somewhere but definitely once a month and before starting out on long road trips If the idea of committing yourself to a regular under the hood checkup seems less than alluring look at it this way Spending 15 minutes a month checking under the hood can prevent 70 percent of the problems that lead to highway breakdowns What you need to check regularly is anything that can run out of fluid lose air jiggle loose or fray after use in other words things like coolant tire pressure hoses and accessory belts This chapter explains what to look for how to look for it and what to do if you discover that something needs to be replaced or ref
3. You can even put numbers on the parts with masking tape if you re afraid that the rag may be moved accidentally Also note what each part was attached to for example Part 6 Hook at end of arm on left hooks onto knob to right of Part 7 Add a sketch if it helps If you work systematically and understand the function of each part you won t be left with what seem to be extra nuts and bolts at the end of the job When you re ready to reassemble everything begin with the last part you removed and proceed counterclockwise through the parts on the rag If you ve numbered the parts they should go on in reverse order 19 20 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle Now you re ready to tackle the first job that will give you a chance to apply this technique Using a jack and changing a tire You may never need to do it but if you re stuck with the need to change a flat you d better know how How to Use a Jack Safely itd N ar The most obvious reason to jack up a car is to change a tire but other jobs such as inspecting brakes may also require you to get under the vehicle Even if you re skinny enough to squeeze yourself between the pavement and the underside of your car you still need room to move around and manipulate tools Chapter 3 has detailed information about the different types of jacks as well as items such as jack stands essential and creepers nonessential but nice This section expl
4. air lt P If you tend to leave the keys in your car fairly often consider hiding an extra key somewhere on the vehicle A little magnetic key box that sticks to the metal surface of a steel body or frame is best but be sure to place it in an obscure and hard to reach area where it can t jiggle loose and fall off I leave the location up to you be imaginative Struggling a little to reach that extra key is better than having car thieves find it And don t hide your house key with it Fortunately many new vehicles come with electronic door openers or digital keys that don t allow you to lock the doors with the keys in the vehicle The downside is that if you lose the gadget it can take days and hundreds of dollars to replace it and you ll probably need to have the vehicle towed to a dealer who will order a new key If your vehicle has an electronic door opener you may be able to get the door open but if you ve lost the opener outside your vehicle the ignition may fail to start without it Some vehicles have override switches for this eventuality so find out whether you d be able to start your vehicle without your opener and locate the override switch now if there is one Assuming that you ve decided not to risk hiding an extra set of keys on your car here are a few things you can try to get in without a key If your vehicle has door locks that are recessed inside the interior door handle get professional hel
5. ll still be ahead of the game because you won t have to pay labor charges Following safety rules ytlON The first time I tuned my car I was sure that if I made the smallest mistake Y the car would explode when I started it This seems to be a common delu sion but it just isn t so If you make a mistake in most cases all you ll get is silence which can be just as disconcerting but not lethal after all This isn t to say that working on a vehicle is free from danger Before you do any work be sure to observe the following safety rules Don t smoke while you re working on your car for obvious reasons v Never work on your vehicle unless the parking brake is on the gearshift is in Park or Neutral and the engine is shut off If you have to run the engine to adjust something turn it on and off yourself to avoid the risk that a friendly helper may misunderstand and turn the engine on while your hands are in the way 1 Be sure that the parts of the engine you re working on are nice and cool so that you don t get burned If you re doing a job that calls for a warm engine be very careful 1 Never jack a vehicle up unless the wheels are properly blocked I go into more detail about this later in this chapter in How to Use a Jack Safely and How to Change a Tire Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know 15 Y Use insulated tools for electrical work Before using a wrench or ratchet on a part
6. ssessessesssessssssssssssssseee 262 Chapter 15 Be a Buddy to Your Brakes and Bearings 263 Checking Your Brake System cccscccsscsssesseesseesscesecesecseeesecsseeseeeseeeeees 264 Checking your brake pedal cccecccsseesccessceseeeecesseeseeesseeeeeseenees 265 Checking your master Cylinder 0 ccccecsccessceseeseesseeseeesseeeesseenaes 267 Checking your brake lines cccccssssssessscesseeseeseceesesseessseseesseenaes 270 Getting at Your Brakes cccescescesscsseesseessceseeeseesseceecesecsseceseesseeseeeneees 271 Things to do and not to do when working on brakes 0 271 Checking drum Drake ccccscccsscssecsssseeesscesecesecessenseesseesseeseeeeees 273 Reassembling drum brakes c ccccscceessesesseeeseceeseeesseeeeseeesseeesseees 276 Checking disc Drakes ccccccsscsscssscsssccscesseessessscessessessessaeeseeenaes 277 Checking and Packing Wheel BearingS cccsccesscesseessceeeseceseeeseeeseens 279 Inspecting and repacking your wheel bearings cee eeeeeeeeeees 280 A quick way to tell whether your bearing s wearing 0 283 xviii Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Flushing and Changing Brake FlUId ccc eccecsseeseeesseeseeeseeeseeneeeseeesees 284 Bleeding Your Brakes ccccsccsscssscsssesssesssesscesscssscessessecsessaessaeesscesseessees 285 Adjusting Your Parking Brake ccccccec
7. ve been there The Introduction tells you all about my automotive epiphany Of course the simplest tasks can sometimes be the biggest hurdles to over come After all if you can t even figure out how to open the hood how can you check the oil or the coolant level That s why I begin this book with the basics simple jobs that you ll need to do again and again like opening the hood jacking up a car and changing a tire I also include instructions for fill ing the fuel tank yourself it s cheaper than full service a surefire method for taking anything apart and putting it back together again and safety pointers that every mechanic experienced and beginner should heed Whenever you encounter a term set in this font you ll find it defined in the glossary in Appendix A 12 Part l Getting to Know Your Vehicle Before Vou Tackle Any Job Its wonderful to do things yourself You spend less money you get a sense of power knowing that you did it on your own and you know that the job s been done right Nevertheless to avoid getting in over my head I always ask myself the following questions before undertaking any job 1 Do I really want to do this Will it be fun or horrendous I try never to do anything that doesn t feel good unless it s absolutely necessary Do I know how to do it If not where do I go to learn 1 Does it require such expensive tools that it would cost less to have someon
8. and how to get it fixed at a fair price if you can t 1 How to extend the life of your vehicle keep it clean and healthy and repair the minor dents and dings it acquires on the road These Features Will Make Life Even Easier 1 A Practical Glossary of Automotive Terms that are in special type through out the book so that you can refresh your memory if you ve forgotten what something means 1 A detailed Index where you can look up a part a problem a symptom or a specific job and find the page you need A Maintenance Record so you can keep track of what you ve done and when you did it 1 A Specifications Record for the data you need to buy the right parts 1 Tons of illustrations that show you how things look and where they are This Revised Edition Also Tells You Y About alternatively fueled vehicles and other innovations so you can choose a safe and efficient vehicle when Old Faithful finally heads for the Used Car Lot in the Sky You Have a Few Things to Supply Too You have to buy the book and read it 1 You have to try to do one small easy job yourself you can pick the job There Are Fringe Benefits Too 1 Your vehicle will run better and live longer 1 Automotive technicians will respect you 1 You ll have more money to spend on other things You ll no longer be a Dummy Publisher s Acknowledgments We re proud of this book please send us your comments through our Dummies online
9. and you can t get it started a piece of hollow pipe fitted over that left hand arm of the cross shaft wrench magically adds enough leverage to start the nut easily see Figure 1 4 After you replace the nut yourself 25 26 Part l Getting to Know Your Vehicle MBER RNS amp SiON this aid is no longer necessary But remember the longer the arms on your lug wrench the more leverage you have Don t remove the lug nuts completely just get them loose enough to remove by hand after jacking up the vehicle Changing the tire Before you jack up your vehicle remove the spare from the trunk After the vehicle is safely jacked up and the lug nuts are off follow these instructions to change the tire 1 Roll the spare tire to the scene of the action if you haven t already done so Grasp the flat tire with both hands and pull it toward you The flat tire sits on the exposed bolts that the lug nuts screw onto As you pull the flat off it should slide along the bolts until suddenly it clears the end of the bolts and you find yourself supporting its full weight Tires are heavy and you ll be quite happy to lower it to the ground if you haven t already dropped it Roll the flat along the ground to the rear of the vehicle to get it out of the way Lift the spare onto the lug bolts Because tires are heavy you may have a little trouble lifting the spare into place especially if you re n
10. Loosening the lug nuts cccceessecssssessseeesseceeseeeeseecsseeesseeesseessaeees 24 Changing the tire ccc ccsccsccsssssseescceseeeeceseceseceeeeseeseesseesseeeneeseeens 26 How to Get In When You re Locked Out cccccecesseeseeseeteeteeeeseeseeeeeeeeaes 28 Chapter 2 Preventive Maintenance A Monthly Under the Hood Check 0 ccc eceee eee ee eee eneeees 29 Getting Your Bearings under the Hood ccccessssseeseeeseceseeeeeseeseeesseenes 30 Check the sAir Filtera inrunner iaaa 31 Check the Accessory Belts cccccecssscssseceeseessseeeeseeesseeesseecsseeessasessaeessaeees 32 Check th Batteny csv skis ke Sie Rh OI BAR ee 33 xii Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Check the Coolant e n anean ee tease he aah E ea lees 36 Check the HOSS istic ieii A ER A E OR 37 Check the DipstickS sssini e eE E EE E OaS 38 Check the oil 3 3 icseiuaniniedee n E E E oes 38 Check the automatic transmission flUid cc eeeeseeseeseeeteeeeeees 40 Check the power steering flUid cee eescesscesecsseeseesseeeseeeseeeseeseeens 41 Check the Brake Fluid cess csi dccsachoescduscssccoassasieeseeaush e i 41 Check the Wrta sies a e e e E AS Seok AON 43 Check the Windshield Washer Fluid ccccsccssessscesseessceeeeseesseeseeeseeeees 43 Check and Replace Windshield WiperS cccccssceseesscesseeseessseeseesseeees 43 Chek ithe Tires tiano e E E A EPEE EENES 44 Driveand ENJO
11. S E 402 Handling a Vehicle That Overheats on a Hot Day ccccceesceseeteeseeeees 403 Overheating When It Isn t Hot Outside c cee eseesseeseeeteeeeenseeseeeneees 404 If Your Vehicle Won t Start cccccccccscsscesseseceeeeseeseeseeseeseeseeeeeeseeseeseeseesees 405 Won t start SYMPtOM cccescessceecessesseessesseceseessecseesseesseseneeeeees 405 JUMPING start r ee aeae e aere hac EEEE SE acess E IE EEN EREET 406 Chapter 22 When All Else Fails Finding and Dealing with a Good Mechanic 00cceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 409 Choosing a Service Facility cccccescescesccesesseeseeseeseeeeaeceeeeeeaeeseeseeseeaeens 409 Dealerships ennen E E E R N R E 410 Chain and department stores ssssssessssesessseesrseseeseseseesrseseeseseseese 411 Ind pende nts rincaro hna thd oie a a e ES 412 Specialists 3k sich n EE OS 412 Finding a Reliable Service Facility 0 0 0 ccccccecscssssesseseeeseceseceseeeseesseeseees 413 Evaluating a Faciliteren a E E ER E 414 Getting the Best Possible Deal cccccccscssessseesseeseeeseceseceseesseesseesseeeees 416 Always check the invoice carefully ccccccscesceseeesssseesseeseeeneeeee 417 Establish a good relationship with your service facility 420 Complaining Effectively nren aen E a T EE 422 Getting satisfaction on any COMPIAINt eee eeseeseeeeeeteeeeeeees 422 Climbing the complaint ladder ccccccscessceseeseeesseesseesseeseee
12. Your Owner s Manual Handy ccecccesssseeseeesseesseeseeeseeseeeseeeees 66 Introducing the Engine Control Unit ECU 0 cece eceeseeseeteeseeeeeeneeeeees 67 What Makes Your Vehicle Start cccccccsscsscssscessceseeesceseessessseesseceseeseeen 68 What Makes Your Vehicle RUM ccccesssessseceesseesseeessecesseecsseeesseeessneessaes 73 Th ignition system kasine eset cee Cae nan Gea en ets 73 The cooling system cscescesecesssseeesscesecesecesceeseceseeseseseesseesseeeseeeseens 74 The lubrication SYSte M ccccceeesccsssecssseecesecesseeesseecsseeesseeesseessaeees 74 The exhaust system cccsccseessssssecsceeseeesecsssceseeseecseesseeeseenseeesesseeens 75 What Makes Your Vehicle Stop ccccscssscessessscesceseeseeesecsseeeseesseeeseenseens 75 Table of Contents xiii Part l Powering Up with Air Fuel and Fire ccccccccseee 19 Chapter 5 The Electrical System Your Car s Spark of Life 81 Introducing the Engine Control Unit ECU 0 cece eeceeseeseeteeseeseeeneeneees 81 The Starting Syste iyo iseia en iA O E ews es peeves 82 Thepattery es a e K EE iia REE E E TERE 83 The starten necer E E R N are 85 The Charging System nsseessessessessosoesoeseeseesesseesesressessesoessosoesoesesseesessesresses 86 Thealternatoi unei neina hoi E N i a E aE 86 The voltage regulator ccecccssccssssessnsessseecesceesseeesseecsseeesseeesseesseees 88 The Ignition
13. and disadvantages of each Part Il Staying Cool and In Control This part deals with the cooling system how oil benefits your vehicle and how the brake system works You find out how to prevent and deal with chronic overheating add and change coolant find and repair leaks change your oil check and maintain your brakes pack wheel bearings and do a vari ety of other vital tasks 5 6 Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Part IV Smoothing the Ride Steering and Suspension Tires and Transmissions How comfortably and efficiently a vehicle operates is hugely influenced by the systems covered in this part of the book This part tells you how all these sys tems operate and shows you how to choose the right tires read the wealth of information on the sidewalls and the treads to prevent tires from wearing out prematurely about balancing and alignment and how to fill tires with the proper amount of air The chapters on transmissions explain how they work how to troubleshoot symptoms and how to obtain the best deal on repairs along with driving techniques that will extend the life of your transmission Part V Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies This part helps you deal with problems that may occur while you re away from home It describes a variety of new safety systems that help children ride comfortably and securely prevent accidents and injuries increase trac tion and stability avoid rollovers and even call fo
14. ewes aA 130 Following Fuel through the Fuel Injectors ccesseessseeesteeeseeeeseeeeees 130 Multi port fuel injection eeeceseeesceeeseeesseeesseeesseeessseesseeesnees 131 Sequential fuel injection cee ceseseeseceseceseesseeseeeseeesseseeeseeees 132 Gasoline direct injection cccceccsssesceesscesscessesscescesssessseseeeseeees 133 Throttle body fuel injection ec eescccesseessceesseesseeeeseeesseessnees 134 The Engine Block Where the Fuel System and Ignition System Meet 135 Major engine COMPONENMMS cccscccessceeseceseecssceeesssesseeesseeesseessnees 135 The four stroke power CYC1 cccccessceessseeseeesseeeeseesseeesseeessnsessnees 137 Supercharging with Turbochargers cccccccssssesscesecesscesseeseeeseesseeseeseees 140 The Exhaust Syste M cccesccesscsssesseesscssscssecssecssecseeceseeseeeseesseceseesseeseeeeees 141 Themus a a Eon 142 The PCV val enur E E NE EE a 142 The catalytic converter osoitinta i ai aaie 143 Other emissions control AeVICES cccescessceseeeseesseeseeesseseeeseeeees 144 Chapter 8 Keeping Your Fuel System in Tune 145 Maintaining Your Air Filter ccc cessecessceesceceseecsseecsseeceseeessaeesenseesnees 146 Checking and cleaning your air filter and cold air CollectOr bX a oi 147 Buying and replacing an air filter ec eceseeesseeeseceeeeesneeesnees 148 Replacing a Fuel Filter ccccccccccsssscssnees
15. know how to do it Although the location of the hood release may differ from one vehicle to the next all releases work in pretty much the same way arr If after reading the following instructions and consulting your owner s manual you still can t figure out how to get your hood open head for the full service bay the next time you stop for gas and ask the attendant to show you how to do it You may pay a little more for fuel and a tip but the lesson will be worth it and you can get your windows washed and your tire pres sure checked for nothing If you re really short of cash just ask for 5 worth of gasoline the difference in cost will be negligible A sidebar in Chapter 2 tells you why you should check the oil yourself instead of having the atten dant do it Here s how to open the hood yourself 1 Find your hood release and pop open the hood Either consult your owner s manual or try to remember the last time a service station attendant opened the hood of your car Did he or she ask you to pull a lever inside the vehicle Or did he or she go directly to the front grill In newer models the hood release is often inside the vehicle some where near the steering column or on the floor next to the driver s seat It generally displays the word Hood or a picture of a car with its hood up In older models the hood release is behind the grill or the bumper If the hood release is inside the vehicle press pus
16. located inside your hood You can usually find these in front of the radiator inside the fenders on the inside of the hood anywhere the auto manufac turer thinks you ll find them I know of one car that has its decal inside the lid of the glove compartment These ID tags also provide a lot of other informa tion about where the vehicle was made what kind of paint it has and so on The service manual for your vehicle should have the specs for the parts you need and the parts department at your dealership or a reputable auto supply store can also look them up for you It s a good idea to stick with parts from the same manufacturer as those that your vehicle originally came with That brand may be listed in a service manual for your vehicle If you don t have a service manual tell the sales clerk at the auto parts store that you want OEM original equipment manu facturer parts Quality aftermarket parts are available as well but unless you trust your parts seller s recommendations or you ve already used a particular aftermarket brand and had good luck with it stick with OEM parts If you can t find specs for buying and gapping spark plugs in your owner s or service manual or on your vehicle you ll find them in a Tune Up Specification Guide called a spec sheet for short at an auto supply store Buying the right plugs in Chapter 6 provides a sample spec sheet and shows you how to use it I provide a Spe
17. off the corners of the nuts You can find this fitting at many parts and tire shops Some alloy wheels come with one or more locking nuts on each wheel to help discourage wheel thieves and you must use the special key that came with the car to unlock them before loosening Be sure you know where your wheel locks are if your vehicle has them Lug nuts with standard finishes Most garages retighten ordinary lug nuts with a power tool and unless you ve done the job yourself by hand they re pretty hard to loosen yourself Take my advice in Chapter 3 and buy a cross shaft lug wrench Figure 3 16 shows what one looks like To make the job easier if an emergency arises you may want to go out and try to remove the lug nuts on your vehicle now fol lowing these instructions If you have prob lems resolve them now so that you won t have to struggle at the side of the road 1 Find the end of the wrench that fits the lug nuts on your vehicle and fit it onto the first nut Always work on lug nuts in consecutive order so that you don t forget to tighten any later 2 Apply all your weight to the bar onthe left Figure 1 4 A hollow pipe and a cross shaft wrench can loosen the This starts turning the nut counterclock tightest lug nuts wise which loosens it I don t suggest using this kind of strong arm tactic on lug nuts with spe cial finishes but if an ordinary nut has been put on with a power tool
18. on the Road 00000ee 361 Air Bags wists fate cassie aE E ae ee ee ents 362 Traveling safely with air bags ccccccssccsssccsseeesseeeseeeesseesseessnees 362 How air bags WOrK ccccecescessseeeseeceseeeescecsseecseeesscecsseeessaeeseasessnees 363 Replacing air bags oo cecccscesecsssssccesssesecesecesecesecsseesssesessseesseeeseenaes 365 Frontalait bagsin icin ona ied outs ho ee se 365 Side air bags SAB ancene descends WAcsas east hee R A 367 Side Impact Protection Systems SIPS cceceeseeseeseeseeseceeeeeeeseeseeseeseenees 368 Adjustable Devices iacere n ei eat amare 368 Child Safety Seats and Booster Seats ccccscssseeseesecessceseeeseeeseeseeeseees 370 Child safety seat requirements ccccescesseesseescesceesseesseeeeeseeeees 370 Choosing child safety Seats ccccecsescesscessceseceseesseesesessesseeeseenees 372 Smart Seat Belts i ivcniiucs intone aes ont aaah E nies 375 Eyes in the Back of Your Vehicle ccccccessscsseesseeessseeeseeesseessneessnees 376 Back up beepers and Sensors cccscceessecesceessseessseessceesseeessneessaees 376 Back up Cameras and Monitors ceesccescecesceeeseeeeseeesseeessseesnees 376 Blind spot information systems BLIS cccccesseeseeseeteeteeseeeees 377 Brake Shift Interlock ici cccsectesees cisasseciesecadesees dees cehness advscectewtvcactees 378 Traction Control Systems TCS cccsess
19. outside you want the flat corrected the proper way If you get caught in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire and are unable to call or wait for service and if you don t feel safe or capable of changing it yourself a can of nonflammable inflator sealant can get you rolling again in min utes Simply screw the nozzle of the can onto the valve stem of the flat tire It will fill the tire with air and some sort of goop that temporarily seals the punc ture Because there s still some question about how permanent this fix is and its ultimate effects on your tire look for a major brand that s environmentally friendly and can be rinsed out of the tire with soap and water by a tire repair professional Use this product only in emergencies get to a service station as soon as possible and be sure to tell them that you used canned inflator sealant and that they should remove the stuff before fixing the tire If reading these instructions makes you think that you d rather languish by the side of the road for hours than undertake changing a tire yourself consider outfitting your vehicle with run flat tires Although these tires are more expen sive and some require special wheels they make it possible to drive with a flat to the nearest service station without ruining the tire Chapter 17 has more information about run flat tires 27 28 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle How to Get In When Vou re Locked Out ytlON amp
20. registration form located at www dummies com register Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following Acquisitions Editorial and Media Development Senior Project Editor Alissa Schwipps Previous Edition Pamela Mourouzis Acquisitions Editor Lindsay Lefevere Senior Copy Editor Elizabeth Rea Previous Edition Wendy Hatch Tamara Castleman Editorial Program Coordinator Erin Calligan Mooney Technical Editor Karen Greenberg Technical Consultants Bob Freudenberger Ken Lavacot 2carpros com Eric Pazer Senior Editorial Manager Jennifer Ehrlich Editorial Assistants Joe Niesen David Lutton Cover Photo Bill Grove Cartoons Rich Tennant www the5thwave com Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies Composition Services Project Coordinator Bill Ramsey Layout and Graphics Karl Brandt Joni Burns Shawn Frazier Stephanie D Jumper Rashell Smith Julie Trippetti Special Art Precision Graphics Proofreaders Laura Albert Dwight Ramsey Shannon Ramsey Indexer Carol A Burbo Special Help Alicia B South Joanne Steventon Diane Graves Steele Vice President and Publisher Consumer Dummies Joyce Pepple Acquisitions Director Consumer Dummies Kristin A Cocks Product Development Director Consumer Dummies Michael Spring Vice President and Publisher Travel Kelly Regan Editorial Director Travel Publishing for Technology Dummies Andy Cummings
21. round with a snorkel stick ing out of the side to facilitate the intake of fresh air Your owner s manual should have instructions on how to locate and get at your air filter If you have no manual see Chapter 8 for general instructions To find out if your air filter needs to be replaced just lift it out it isn t fas tened down and hold it up to the sun or to a strong light Can you see the light streaming through it If not try dropping it lightly bottom side down on a hard surface to jar some dirt loose Don t blow through the filter you can foul it up that way If you drop the filter a few times and it s still too dirty to see through you need a new one Chapter 7 tells you more about air fil ters and Chapter 8 has instructions for buying and replacing them Ro Because the air filter extracts dirt and dust particles from the air you should change it at least once a year or every 20 000 miles whichever comes first unless yours gets very dirty before then If you do most of your driving in a dusty or sandy area you may need to replace your air filter more often Cold air collector box Air filter PIOI L a KLE OS SL Max Figure 2 2 The cold air collector box houses the air filter 32 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle Idle mixture screws Idle stop y solenoid Figure 2 3 On carbureted vehicles the air filter is inside the air cleaner
22. tap of your hand if it unscrewed like a big jar top then it screws back in If your car has hubcaps place the hubcap against the wheel and whack it into place with the heel of your hand Cushion your hand with a soft rag first so that you won t hurt it And don t hit the hubcap with a wrench or hammer you ll dent it Whack it a couple of times in a couple of places to be sure that it s on evenly and securely Even secondhand hubcaps can be expensive to replace and that s if you can find the one you need If it s too much of a hassle or if you don t have the time to replace the hubcap you can take it home and install it later it s mostly ornamental and you can drive for a while without it But do replace it soon because it helps keep dust and dirt out of your brakes and bearings 9 Put the flat in the trunk where the spare was located and put your tools including wheel blocks away Get that flat fixed immediately you don t know when you may need it again And make sure that it s repaired properly Instead of dismounting the tire from the wheel rim inspecting it fixing it and remounting it some service stations simply plug the flat from the outside Several states now outlaw this procedure known as outside in repair and patches should never be used if the hole is in the sidewall rather than the tread In either case be sure to tell the service facility that you don t want the tire plugged from the
23. that s stuck make sure that if the part suddenly comes loose your hand won t hit anything To avoid the possibility of being injured because your hand slams into something pull on wrenches rather than push them whenever possible Take off your tie scarf rings long necklaces and other jewelry If they get caught on parts they and you can be damaged 1 Tie back long hair If your hair accidentally gets caught in a moving fan or belt you can literally be scalped Y If you re working with toxic chemicals such as coolant cleaners and the like keep them away from your mouth and eyes Wash your hands thoroughly after using them and either store them safely away from pets and children or dispose of them in a way that s safe for the environment Know that gasoline is extremely dangerous to have around Not only is it toxic and flammable but the vapor in an empty can is explosive enough to take out a city block If you must keep a small amount of gaso line on hand for a lawn mower or chain saw always store it in a venti lated gasoline can designed specifically for that purpose Unless you re going far into the wilds never carry a can of gasoline in or on your vehi cle See the sidebar How to dispose of empty gasoline cans safely Y Work in a well ventilated area to avoid breathing in carbon monoxide if you have to run the engine or breathing in toxic fumes from chemi cals and gasoline If possi
24. the text to make things con sistent and easy to understand 1 All Web addresses appear in monofont 1 Whenever you encounter a term set in this font you ll find it defined in the glossary in Appendix A 1 Italic is used to note technical terms that aren t defined in the glossary 4 Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Y Bold is used to highlight the action parts of numbered steps as well as key information in lists 1 Sidebars are the shaded boxes that appear here and there They contain information that s interesting and insightful and that may help you out in your auto repair adventures However you won t be at a serious disadvan tage if you stick to the regular text and save the sidebars to read later on How 1 Picture Vou In order to make this book as relevant readable and enjoyable as possible I envision it as a friendly conversation with the kind of person I feel would want to read it Here s my mental portrait of my readers You re intelligent and may know a great deal about a lot of things law business literature medicine and other nonautomotive subjects but you need some help when it comes to cars You re tired of living as a closet dummy who nods and smiles at the incomprehensible mutterings of your mechanic only to end up shelling out money for repairs that you neither fully understand nor always need 1 You ve decided that it simply isn t worth the extra money to have o
25. the tool they re using The guys also showed me that the longer the handle the more leverage you have And from watching them struggle learned that the patience to perse vere comes from having the confidence that eventually you will succeed So now approach hard to move objects with the proper tools focus and patience It works Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know 13 MBER KV amp yit0N P Buying the right parts for your vehicle Before you go shopping for parts to replace those on your vehicle read the tips in this section carefully They can help you avoid what s probably the most annoying part of any automotive job disabling your vehicle to work on it only to find that you need it to drive back to the store to exchange the stuff they sold you in error Before I learned how to do it right this happened at least two out of every three times on every job I did This section tells you what you need to know when buying any part Sections in other chapters that deal with jobs that require buying replacement parts provide tips on buying them as well as what tools and other stuff you need for that task Chapter 3 tells you how to buy specific tools and what they re used for To buy the proper parts for your vehicle you must know its specifications or specs as they re often called Most of this information should be in your owner s manual and a lot of it is also printed on metal tags or decals
26. up the parts If you plan to use something that blasts air for cleaning purposes leave enough of the rag uncluttered to fold it over the parts resting on it Before you remove each part stop and ask yourself the following ques tions and if you re worried about forgetting your answers make notes e What is this thing e What does it do e How does it do it e Why is it made the way it is e How tightly is it screwed on or fastened down Most amateurs put things back very tightly in hopes that the part won t fly off But some things like bolts that hold gaskets in place shouldn t be tightened too securely because for example the bolt threads could be stripped or the gasket could be squeezed out of shape allowing what ever it s holding in to get out It s helpful to make notes about how hard each thing was to remove Don t over tighten or Be sure it s secure Some parts require exact torque specifications but we don t deal with them in this book As you remove each part lay it down on the rag in clockwise order with each part pointing in the direction it was in before you removed it This is the key to the whole system When you re ready to reassemble things the placement and direction of each part tells you when to put it back and how it was oriented If you re making notes assign each part a number indicating the order in which you removed it Part 1 Part 2 and so on
27. with a broom handle or similar object and have these units checked or replaced if needed as soon as you can How to Take Anything Apart and Get It Back Together Again RULE X Vv Pd never been able to follow the easy instructions to put my kids toys together until I learned the technique that follows Then I was able to get at my brakes to check them and even lubricate the wheel bearings and put everything back together again The bonus is that this procedure works for anything that you need to take apart and put back together again flat tires toasters bicycles you name it NEVER EVER DO A JOB IN A HURRY Allow yourself plenty of time If things get rough have some water or a cup of coffee You may get a whole new perspective when you go back to work Limit distractions Turn on your answering machine or take the phone off the hook keep the kids and the dog away and relax If you hit a snag sit quietly and think about it don t panic If the parts fit together before they ll fit together again Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know RS R gt Follow these instructions breathing slowly and deeply 1 Lay a clean lint free rag down on a flat surface near enough to reach without having to get up or walk to it You ll lay each part on this rag as you remove it Consequently the rag shouldn t be in an area where oil or dust or anything else can fall on it and foul
28. 8 Recycle your old oil and filter eee ecsseeeseeeseeeseeesseeessneessnees 248 Chapter 14 It s the Brakes 00 cece cece eee eee 249 Brake System Basics cccccscesssessesseessessseessesseceseceeeceseeseceseeeseesseenseesseeeees 249 The brake pedalllsiccssisins o eicge cierto oacieorese eeees a N cobeaneeseess 250 Power brakes s sicicsestntuccavisieethseiedh E E E 251 The brake master Cylinder cccccseesscesscessceeceseesseeseeeseeeseesseenees 252 Brake lineS3 2ccsssniiccenetontoo a a a 253 Brake a DEA Ca EAE E ES ER E T E EE E E AA 253 Drum Brakes jeisc iisiccestedacviceesceetitivestaa a a A E E atts 254 Brake dr MsS erei A steer ec E Mate ha eevee 255 WheeleylindetSicumeneosimnnnn a n n a a a 255 JET Ea I E EE A E E 256 Brake linings gena a e a dons EE TE See Seas 256 Adjusting devices ccscccseesseecesscessesssesssesssesseesseesscsnseessessseseeees 257 Dise Brakes sseeg nnau a a a a a a U 257 The Parking Brake cccecccscesscessesseesscssscssecesecesecsescsseeseseeeesscssecsseenseeeeees 258 Anti Lock Braking Systems ABS sssesssssssssessssssrsessssrsessseseseeseseseesesessese 260 H w ABS workSisecenn a E EER T aa 261 What ABS d0eSt TAO wiisscseccssersczesseec cetera vested sod IEEE TE 261 Other Electronic Braking System ccccccsssssseessceseeesceeseeseesseeseeeseees 262 Brake Assist BA asoini E E A a 262 Electronic brakeforce distribution EBD
29. A sacs ceth coud actednsh cous casted egestaeveneactedhecatustdentesh aed 183 Parallel hybrids 2 cnnis cae es nite neh 184 DELIES NY DHIGS ssc j330sdesenaccebe OEE E aI ape 185 Plug in hybrids 200 eee ceecseeeseeeceseeseeseeseceeceeeeeeeseeseeseeseceeeeseeaeeseeseesees 186 Two mode hybrids cccecescceessceeseeceseeeececeeecseeeseeesseeesseeesseessnees 187 R genera tive Brakes nbd dnt cok E te See E e 187 Electric Vehicles EV ivcssoesia sites sstbeova ceived aetdennascdve iv deeds cudecd Sou tecddeciend dns cas 188 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles ccccccsessseesseseesecesseesecsseceseeseeeeees 190 How fuel cels work acie sie r EER E EEEE ea 190 Natural Gas Vehicles NGV cceccescsssssseseeeeceeeesceseeseeseeseeseeneeeseeseeseeseesees 191 Part Ill Staying Cool and In Control ccccccccscccseeeeeeeee 193 Chapter 11 The Cooling System Up Close 05 195 Coolant Antifreeze edocs sess a etettodntd ves E a a a io aR 196 Th Rad fat Orice cdsc5e5cbse oiveds aeeycesvehi ds she reesveviecs wevsees teste divvan de eases 197 WG HOSES fos sescrsvteces sirens E be ho N bess evi RE TARATA 197 The coolant recovery system ccscccessscessessseeessseesseeesseeesssessnees 198 Phe Pressure Capsi eean EEE ETE ER E EE 199 The Fam asnoda e IREE KA AEA EE ER NRE a 199 The Water PUMDenirniisreisi sensed e E a a Gone 200 The Thermostat ccccccccssccccsssscccessscecessseecesss
30. AY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ For general information on our other products and services please contact our Customer Care Department within the U S at 800 762 2974 outside the U S at 317 572 3993 or fax 317 572 4002 For technical support please visit www wiley com techsupport Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books Library of Congress Control Number 2008929120 ISBN 978 0 7645 9902 6 Manufactured in the United States of America 10987654321 WILEY About the Author Deanna Sclar is also the internationally best selling author of Buying a Car For Dummies a money saving guide to every aspect of car ownership includ ing buying selling financing auto insurance and claims and more A former contributing editor to Family Circle Boys Life Exploring and the Los Angeles Times her articles have appeared in Redbook New Woman and other national magazines As an automotive expert and consumer spokesperson Deanna has appeared on more than 800 radio and TV shows including her own segment on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw Good Morning America Today the Lifetime CNN and National Public Radio networks and local shows in 30 major cities Her Auto Repair For Dummies video was a National Home Video Awards final ist She s co hosted Outrageous Women a weekly TV t
31. Auto Repair DUMMIES 2ND EDITION by Deanna Sclar John O Dell Technical Advisor WILEY Wiley Publishing Inc Auto Repair DUMMIES 2ND EDITION by Deanna Sclar John O Dell Technical Advisor WILEY Wiley Publishing Inc Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Published by Wiley Publishing Inc 111 River St Hoboken NJ 07030 5774 www wiley com Copyright 2009 by Wiley Publishing Inc Indianapolis Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying recording scanning or otherwise except as permit ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without either the prior written permission of the Publisher or authorization through payment of the appropriate per copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center 222 Rosewood Drive Danvers MA 01923 978 750 8400 fax 978 646 8600 Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department Wiley Publishing Inc 10475 Crosspoint Blvd Indianapolis IN 46256 317 572 3447 fax 317 572 4355 or online at http www wiley com go permissions Trademarks Wiley the Wiley Publishing logo For Dummies the Dummies Man logo A Reference for the Rest of Us The Dummies Way Dummies Daily The Fun and Easy Way Dummies com and related trade dress are trademarks or
32. Check the Accessory Belts If you re under the hood of your vehicle and can see without having to remove shields or cowlings take a look at the serpentine accessory belt that drives the alternator the power steering pump the air conditioning compressor the water pump in many cases and other parts of a modern vehicle If you drive an older car look at the separate belts Figures 2 4 and 2 5 show you what both types of belts look like ar If you can t access an accessory belt easily to check it yourself have it checked when you have the vehicle serviced or if the belt gets noisy or any of the equipment it drives begins to malfunction If you can see an accessory belt easily here s what to look for Figure 2 4 Accessory belts If the belt gives more than inch when you press on it but other wise is in good condition it may just need to be adjusted
33. Syste eeen er e E essa EE 88 Thespark PIl ZSe manr r E E RETE 89 Modern distributorless ignition systems cccccesscceeteesseeeeeees 93 Electronic ignitions with a distributor sseeessseeessesssersseseeessesssres 94 Warning Lights and Malfunction Indicator Lights MIL eee 96 Other Electrical Gadgets snoeien TERE 97 Chapter 6 Keeping Your Electrical System in Tune 99 Determining Whether Your Vehicle Needs a Tune up ssssssseesssssesereeee 100 Changing Your Spark Plugs cccccescsssesseesseeseeeseeeseeesecesecesecesecessenseeseees 101 Finding your spark plugs ccccscccessceesseesseeeeseeesseeessceessaeessneessnees 101 Deciding if you should do the job yourself 0 eeceeesseeeteeeeees 101 What you need to change and gap your plugs sssssesesessesssessrese 103 Buying the right pl ugsSis cene r e EEE E E Ea 104 Removing old spark plugs ccccesssceeseeeseeesseeeeseecsseeesseeesseessnees 106 Reading your spark PlUQS cccsccssssceeseceseeesseeesseeesseeesseeessneessnees 109 Gapping your spark plugs ccceceeescesseesecessceseesseesseeseesseesseeeneenees 111 Installing a spark Plu eesccessccssecesseecsseeesseeesseeesseeesseeeesseessnees 112 R placing ai Battery eeii ie iie E dienes 114 Deciding if you should do the job yourself ccc ceeeeesseeeteeeeees 114 Buying the right battery for your Vehicle cccesseesseeseeeteeeees 115 How
34. Vice President and Publisher Dummies Technology General User Composition Services Gerry Fahey Vice President of Production Services Debbie Stailey Director of Composition Services Contents at a Glance Vntroduction cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccececccccccccccccceccecccece Part I Getting to Know Vour Vehicle 1ccccccccsccccseccseeeeeeY Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know cccccsccssesssesceseeeeeeeeeseeaeeseeseenseneeees 11 Chapter 2 Preventive Maintenance A Monthly Under the Hood Check 29 Chapter 3 The Way to Your Car s Heart Is through Your Toolbox 45 Chapter 4 What Makes It Go The Inner Secrets of Your Car Revealed 65 Part Il Powering Up with Air Fuel and Five cccscccsseee 19 Chapter 5 The Electrical System Your Car s Spark of Life eceseseeeeeeeeeeeeees 81 Chapter 6 Keeping Your Electrical System in Tune ccccsseeseesseesseeseeeseeseeeseeeees 99 Chapter 7 The Traditional Fuel System The Heart and Lungs of Your Car 125 Chapter 8 Keeping Your Fuel System in Tune cece cessssceseeseeesscessceseesseeseeeseees 145 Chapter 9 Diesels For DUMMIES cceeceesseessceseeeseesseeseesseeeseeeseeeseceseceseesseeeseeeees 161 Chapter 10 From Horses to Hybrids Alternatively Powered Vehicles 181 Part Il Staying Cool and In Control ccccccccccscsceeeseeee 193 Chapter 11 The Cooling System Up Close ccc
35. Y horad a E a E E 44 Chapter 3 The Way to Your Car s Heart Is through Your Toolbox 45 Shopping for Tools cccccescesscsssesscesscssseessceseesseeseeceseesesesecesecsseesseenseeseeeees 45 Screwdriver Scan A A A A O EA 46 SereWhOlderS iieri neiaie n KRN EO EEEE RN 48 WEETICHES 2 sacra eoa eka aeee aaee AEE AEAEE 49 Socket WIENChES ucene ie E E T E a 49 Combination Wrenches cccccccsscessssssesscesecesceesecseeeseesseesseeeseeeseeeseens 51 Torqu wrenches iernii ai E E EEE A 52 Adjustable Wrenchess ccsccssccsssssscssscssecssscsssesecesssesscssscessessseseeeesees 53 TI A E E A T EE E 53 GAUGES EEE A EATE EA E TE E EE 55 Wire and taper feeler gauges cceecsesseesseesseeseeeseeeseesseesseeseeeeessees 55 Tire pressure gauges sseseoseeseesessesressesstssossosseseseeseesessessesressessesses 56 Compression gauges cccescsssssssssseesseeseeesecsssceseeeeeeseesseesseeeseeeaeesseens 56 WOrk Lights con nnn a ea endar OE ALITER EREI 57 Jacks zerine E EE OaE EEA AE A E TTE 58 Jack Stand vive desea lei nts RE EA anaes 59 CY ECE POLS fecsess see EE ES EE E A EAEE E 59 Fire ExtinguisherS sis 3 000 eccsciivetvaiccieneieh bai ord uid E E 60 Funnels ia er aK E EE E A T T uan veneered 60 More Things to Carry in Your Vehicle ccceescesseseesecesseeseeessesseeeseeees 61 Chapter 4 What Makes It Go The Inner Secrets of Your Car Revealed cc cece ee eect e eee eeeaeaee 65 Keeping
36. ains how to use a jack safely and efficiently The next section tells you how to change a tire after the vehicle is in the air Before you attempt to jack up your vehicle observe the following safety precautions y Jacks are used only to get a vehicle off the ground They should never be used to hold a vehicle in place You must use jack stands when you work underneath your vehicle If you don t you run the risk of serious injury or even death People have been crushed to death when vehicles that were improperly secured fell on them Never jack up a vehicle without blocking the wheels to keep it from rolling Use bricks wooden wedges or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised Chocks are available at a low cost at auto supply stores Keep what ever you use for blocks in the trunk so that you don t have to go hunting around if you have to change a flat tire If you find yourself faced with the job of changing a tire and you have nothing with which to block the wheels park near the curb with the wheels turned in This may not keep you from getting hurt if the car rolls off the jack but at least innocent motorists and pedestrians won t have to deal with a runaway driverless vehicle 1 Never change a tire on a freeway or highway Not only can you be seriously injured but you can also fall prey to carjackers Don t exit the vehicle instead use a cellphone to c
37. alk show and has pro duced written hosted and edited several documentaries Her Auto Repair for Dummies course at California State University Northridge drew the largest crowds ever in their continuing education program A life long environmental activist Deanna led the group that threw the first Earth Day celebration in New York City and convinced Mayor Lindsay to start the first urban recycling program The former Thumbs Sclar has restored two classic cars a truck and three homes An inveterate gypsy and blue water sailor she has crewed her way across the Pacific and Polynesia sailed and dived Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef trekked alone for nine months through southeast Asia and five months through Brazil and crossed the Atlantic in a small sailboat with a companion and a cat My goal is to prove that we have control over our lives she says Whether you are working on a car or making a lifelong dream come true it s a do it yourself world Knowing this has turned my life into a great adventure and I want to pass the good news on to everybody else Dedication For my children Gina and Casey and my grandchildren Jesse Allison Jacob and Kylie who will drive the vehicles of the future Author s Acknowledgments John O Dell for going far beyond all expectations to provide the erudition insight and dedication to make sure that this edition is accurate and up to date Thanks so much
38. all road service or an automobile association such as the AAA If you don t have a cellphone hang a white rag or a white piece of paper out of the driver s side window and wait for the highway patrol to rescue you Even if you hate cellphones I recommend that you buy one and keep it in the vehicle for emergencies You can find a very affordable model that just lets you call 911 road service and those you d want to notify in an emergency It could save your life Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know MBER S ytlON EA 1 Always park a vehicle on level ground before you jack it up If you get a flat tire on a hill and can t coast to the bottom without killing the tire completely park close to the curb turn the wheels toward the curb and block the downside wheels securely to prevent the car from rolling These precautions won t eliminate the risk of changing a tire on an incline If you can t get to level ground or wait for assistance you change the tire at your own risk 1 Be sure that your gearshift is in Park or in First if you have a manual transmission and that the parking brake is on before you jack up the vehicle The only time you don t want the parking brake on is when you have to be able to rotate a rear wheel or remove rear brake drums to inspect the brakes In such a case make sure that the front wheels are blocked securely If you remove a wheel and begin to work without making sure t
39. ant preventive maintenance you can do to keep your vehicle in good condition and offers eco logical tips for saving fuel Appendixes I include two handy appendixes at the back of this book The Dictionary of Acronyms and the Practical Glossary not only tell you what automotive terms mean but give you advice about them as well Throughout the book glossary terms are set in a special font to remind you to go to the glossary when you see a word that you don t recognize or aterm that you don t understand 1 The handy Specifications Record makes sure that you have the numbers of the parts you need when you go to the auto supply store and the Maintenance Record reminds you to get busy if you ve let things go too long The Maintenance Record also provides a history of maintenance and repair that will be an asset when it s time to sell your vehicle or trade it in Each record can be photocopied before you enter any infor mation on it so you have one for every vehicle you own Icons Used in This Book lt P To make this book easier to read and simpler to use I include some icons that can help you find and fathom key ideas and information This icon points to suggestions or hints that can make a task easier save you money help you avoid hassles and otherwise make your life easier This icon appears beside information that you should watch out for because it points out events or circumstances that are dangerous or can
40. attempt to do it yourself I tell you how to be sure the work is done properly by a professional at a fair price So don t chicken out on me Start with the easy stuff and then take on the more challenging tasks How 1 Became Intimately Involved with My Car and Why Vou Should Too Before I moved to California I was an ordinary urban cliff dweller I had only a nodding acquaintance with cars Ours was locked up in a garage and I used subways buses and taxis All the maintenance on our car was done by the garage that housed it When we moved to California my enthusiasm for a life in the sun was considerably dampened by the knowledge that this would also include a life on the freeways but the first time I took the family car to the supermarket myself I had an epiphany in the parking lot I could drive any where I wanted to instead of just being driven home It wasn t long before I was looking for a car of my own The best I could do was a secondhand Mustang with more than 70 000 miles on it A friend of mine checked out the car and pronounced it drivable He said that it might need a little work We took it to a reliable mechanic who checked it over tuned it up and told me that it was a classic Thus reassured I drove the car to the Department of Motor Vehicles to regis ter it I parked the car turned off the ignition locked it and found that the car was singing A bit puzzled I rechecked the ignition and the radio b
41. ble work outdoors in your driveway your backyard or a parking lot If you must work in your garage be sure to keep the garage door open and move the vehicle as close to the door as possible 1 Use a work light in dark areas If you don t already have one Chapter 3 tells you what you need to know about buying one Y Keep a fire extinguisher handy Chapter 3 contains reasons for this pre caution that may surprise you So much for the scary stuff Auto repair safety is all a matter of common sense really How to Fill Er Up Vourself More and more gas stations are shifting toward self service If you ve been reluctant to abandon the luxury of the full service lane chances are that it s going to get more and more difficult to find one Knowing how to fill er up yourself not only prevents you from being stranded with an empty tank when 16 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle ytlON avr there s no one available to fill it for you but it also saves you money on every gallon every time Fill up in the morning before the temperature rises or fuel is delivered to the gas station Gasoline expands with heat which also reduces its energy content per gallon Since the sales meters at service stations are set for fuel at 60 F you get less energy and pay more for fuel that s hotter than that Fuel is often delivered to stations while still hot from the refineries and studies show that fuel in underground tanks
42. can top 100 F even when the weather is cooler Always extinguish your cigarette before you start to pump gasoline If the flame comes in contact with gasoline fumes it can cause an explosion Here are the steps for pumping your own gas 1 Look at the price window on the pump If a previous sale is registered there reset it by following the next steps to activate the pump and select the grade of gasoline If the price doesn t disappear try inserting your credit card or have the attendant clear the machine so that the price window reads 0 00 2 If you re using a credit card insert it into the slot and follow the instructions in the credit card window 3 Select the grade of fuel you want and move the lever on the pump to ON 4 Unscrew the cap from your fuel tank 5 Unhook the pump nozzle and hose from the pump and place the nozzle into the fuel tank opening Some nozzles have rubber vapor recovery sleeves that must be depressed to allow the fuel to flow so push the nozzle as deeply into the filler tube of your vehicle as it will go 6 Squeeze the trigger on the pump nozzle to allow fuel to flow out of the hose and into your fuel tank There s usually a little latch near the trigger that keeps the trigger open so that you don t have to stand there holding onto it and inhaling gaso line fumes Don t worry about overflows gas pumps shut off automati cally when your tank is almost full Engaging the
43. cifications Record in Appendix B Make a copy for each vehicle you own and record the specifications for that vehicle on it I keep a dupli cate in my glove compartment so that I always have it when I shop for parts Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle How to dispose of empty gasoline cans safely Although gasoline simply burns gasoline plus air forms an explosive vapor that can literally take out your entire neighborhood For this reason it s wise not to store or carry gasoline unless you re heading far away from any source of fuel and in that unlikely event use only a spe cialized vented gas can If you have an old gasoline can around get rid of it and do it in a way that won t pollute the environment Fill toxic waste If there s no center nearby ask your local service station if they ll dispose of it for you Some people keep gasoline around to clean parts with but this is extremely dangerous Mechanic s solvent available at gas stations and auto supply stores works better and has been treated with a flame retardant to keep it from burning too freely the can with water and as soon as you can take the can to a recycling center that handles ar When you go to buy parts keep in mind that most professional mechanics get discounts at auto parts stores Ask if you can get a discount given that you re installing the parts yourself It can t hurt to try Even if you don t get a price break on parts you
44. cscesccssesseseeseeseeeeseceeeeeeeeeeseeseeeeaeens 195 Chapter 12 Keeping Your Car from Getting Heartburn eeeeeeseeseereereeeeeneees 203 Chapter 13 Oil Keeping Your Car Young and Happy ccsccssesscseeseeeeeeeseeeeeeeees 233 Chapter 14 It s the Brakes sissciec cccccecsecseccsiauccssestessacovesevsessdeaeestdd eacbaledevsetacutdeavonevedecvess 249 Chapter 15 Be a Buddy to Your Brakes and Bearvings ccssessesseeseeseeeeteeteeeeees 263 Part IV Smoothing the Ride Steering and Suspension Tires and Transtnisstons cccccccccccccccceseeeeeee 29 Chapter 16 Steering and Suspension Systems Smooth the Way cscceeseseees 293 Chapter 17 How to Keep Your Car from Getting Sore Feet Tires Alignment and Balancing 0 ccccccccscssesseeseeseeseeseesceseesseeseesecseeseeseceeeeeeaeeaeeseeseeaeens 311 Chapter 18 Take the Drive Train Understanding and Maintaining Your Transmission without Losing Your Mind cesccssesseeesseeseceseeeeeceeesseeeseseseeeeees 335 Part V Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies 359 Chapter 19 Staying Safe on the Road ccesecsscesseeseeesecesesseeesecesecesecessenseesseeseeenees 361 Chapter 20 Troubleshooting Leaks Squeaks Smells and Strange Sensations 385 Chapter 21 What to Do If Your Car Drops Dead or Won t Start ececceseeeeeees 397 Chapter 22 When All Else Fails Finding and Dealing with a Good Mechanic 409 Part VI Help
45. cture Trips to Save Fuel ccccecessecssessessseessceseceseceseceseesseeseeeseeesees 472 Fill Er Up Eco Logicallly ccccceccsscssscssscessessecssecssecsseesecessesseesseesseesseeneees 473 Keep Your Side Windows Shut and the AC Turned Off eee 473 Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated c ccccceesseesseceeseeeeseeeeseecsseeesseeeeees 473 Clean O t the J nk rriren ere ih ete e E R de setn sive 474 Keep Your Vehicle Waxed ccccccscccsssscesscsseeseceesseessseeesseeeeeecsseeesseeesses 474 Use a Trailer Instead of a Roof Rack eesesneeseeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeneeeeeees 474 Appendix A A Practical Glossary of Automotive TEMS ca consscvsaevzcstccaduarsadeesedsinccadsasstaeiaic 1D Appendix B Specifications and Maintenance Records cccccccsssccccccceccsececcccseeeeesseeeeees DOT Specifications Record ccccescessesseesscesecssceeseeeseceseceseeseeeseessecsseesseesseeseees 508 Maintenance Record csscsscssscessesssesssesscessessacensecsscsssesseseaecsaessseessesneees 509 VRC ii a a rhea vata a aaa S Introduction Fe many people getting a driver s license is an event that runs second only to getting a diploma or a marriage license Most of us succeed in passing the test and hop happily into our vehicles headed for the freedom of the open road Unfortunately most of us don t know the first thing about the machines we re licensed to drive and this can turn a ticket to freedom into a ticket to
46. e Drive Train 0 ccccssscccessnscccesscccessnscecessececesscnseceesesecesseseecesseeseessenee 336 How Power Flows through the Drive Train ccccesccssseeeseeeeseeeeseeeeees 337 Four wheel drives si cecccb secccio cored donee e a esos a tes sence o e Siete 340 All wheel rive s ccccsssecsecssssnscsessesecsessesecessnsecessececssssesecsessesesesse 341 Manual Transmissions ccccccccssscccessseccesssceceesseecccessececeeseeecesseeeeeesaes 342 What a manual transmission consists Of ccccccccsssssceeesseeeeeees 342 How a manual transmission Works cccccccssccessccessceesseeesseeeeees 345 Automatic TransMissiONns ccccsscccessssccceesceceessececeessececesececessneeeesaaes 346 Dual clutch transMissions cccccccccsssccceesseeceesseeceeessececesseeeeeseee 348 Continuously variable transmissions cccccsscssseeseeseeeseeeeeees 349 Troubleshooting Your Drive Train c ccccsesscessssssesecesseessceseeeseesseeseees 350 Symptoms of a sick transmission system ccccesceseesseereeeseeees 351 Those low transmission fluid blues cc cc cecccesscesseceseeesseeeseees 352 Taking Care of Your ClUtch immeisen ein E E a E a 353 Undertaking Transmission Repairs WiselY ccccsscessessceseeeseeseeseees 354 How to Keep from Driving Your Transmission Crazy 356 Part V Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies 359 Chapter 19 Staying Safe
47. e do it for me than to buy those tools Can I borrow or rent the tools I need If I goof can something be seriously damaged Can I be hurt How long will it take and what is my time worth From that perspective how much money will I save by doing it myself You ll be happy to know that almost every job in this book should pass the test of these questions If you find a task that doesn t don t hesitate to turn it over to a professional after you read enough to know that the job is defi nitely necessary what it entails whether the work has been done properly and how to get satisfaction if it isn t With that in mind let s get on to the very first thing you need to know in order to work on your vehicle What the big guys taught me about busting things loose If you try to remove a bolt or a spark plug and you can t budge it don t feel like a weakling At first thought that had trouble because was female so asked the biggest guys in my auto class for help because it would have been embarrassing if some little guy could do it To my amazement found that often the big guys struggled too The difference was that they always prevailed What learned from them is that strength depends less on size or sex and more on the way in which we ve been taught to focus our strength People who are handy with tools usually have learned to pour their strength down their arms and into their hands and focus it on
48. eecesesseeccessaeeceesseeecesseneeesenaes 200 The Heater Core cccccccccccccsssccsssccessccessecessecessecessecessecesseecssseesseeceneecenseeesas 201 XVI Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition The Transmission Cooler sereine E e E E ia 201 Air Conditioning eee a iei e EA E A E ETEN 202 Chapter 12 Keeping Your Car from Getting Heartburn 203 Overcoming Overheating sessessessosseso0soosoesessoesessessessessessesoesoesoesoesessesse 203 Addressing occasional overheating ccccccesceseestseseeeseeeeeeseeees 204 Dealing with a chronic hothead cccccccsscssseeeseeesscsessseessneeesnees 204 Identifying other causes of Overheating cceceesseeestseeseesseees 205 Checking and Adding Liquid to Your Cooling System c eseeee 206 Removing a pressure Cap Safely cccscccessecsssecsssesseesstsessneeesnees 206 Avoiding disaster when adding liquid to any type Of cooling SYSTEM cece ceesseeesceeesceeesceesseeesseeessnees 208 Checking and adding liquid to a coolant recovery system 209 Checking and adding liquid to a radiator eee eeeesseeseeeteeeees 209 Flushing Your System and Changing Your Coolant ccescseseeseeeees 210 Deciding if you re up for the job eescescessceeesceeseeeseesseeeneenees 210 Determining whether your coolant needs changing 006 211 Figuring out how much coolant you need cecessseessseeeteeeenees 212 Keepi
49. end up cost ing you a lot of money This icon was specially created for this book to alert you to the relationship between a piece of information and its impact on the environment The infor mation will help you save fuel cut air pollution recycle parts and dispose of toxic substances safely 8g Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition RULE 9Y cy WY This icon appears beside rules that you absolutely must follow if you want to achieve success in a particular situation There aren t many of them so pay attention when you do come across them This icon indicates information that you may have encountered elsewhere in the book and need to take into consideration and keep in mind This icon appears beside technical information that although interesting at least to me you can skip without risking anything important This icon appears beside real life stories that provide a relaxing respite from serious subjects and demonstrate what you should or should not do to avoid major trouble or to triumph in difficult situations Where to Go from Here You can use this book any way you want to You can read it from cover to cover or jump from section to section as the mood strikes you To find a gen eral topic head to the Table of Contents If you re looking for more specific information go to the Index No matter how you use the book I recommend that you tuck it into your trunk compartment to keep it handy whe
50. ependence on the rapidly dwindling supply of fossil fuel and will play a huge role in the battle against global warming that threatens the future of the planet I m proud to say that this edition of Auto Repair For Dummies is the first green automotive guide that focuses on how the vehicles you choose the way you maintain them and how you recycle used oil parts you ve replaced and other waste products directly affects the environment The book starts off with the basics every driver should know from how to get the hood open and fill up with fuel to using a jack and changing a tire safely 2 Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition You learn the basic safety rules to follow when dealing with your vehicle and how to take anything apart and reassemble it without losing anything includ ing your mind After identifying the basic tools you may need I gently lead you into an easy preventive maintenance check up that you can do to extend the life of your vehicle and keep it from breaking down on the road Next there s a quick overview of how your vehicle s principal systems work together to start it operate it efficiently on the road and bring it safely to a stop After you have a general idea of how things work we explore each system part by part and what needs to be done to maintain it troubleshoot it and do minor repairs yourself Don t worry about getting in over your head If a repair can get you into trouble if you
51. es 167 The diesel four stroke power CYCIE cssccsssceeseseesseessesseessnees 168 Diesel AUG tos areen eaer E aE R RE E EAA R 168 The Electrical System rnnr oevaisaviveahesaredeweltaceeseaserees 171 The Emissions Systemi senie annaa E a Aa as 171 Caring for Yo r Dieselin anitae n e a RE R 173 Changing the lubricating Of 0 0 0 ec eeecscessceseeeseenseeseeesseeseeeseenees 174 Changing the air filter 0 0 0 cece cececeseesecesecesceeseceeeesseeseesseesseeeseenaes 175 Changing the fuel filters ccc cccceseeseeeseceseeeseessesseeeseeeseeeseenees 175 Bleeding and priming the fuel system cccecesseseesseeseeeeeees 175 Draining water S ParatOLS cccccscccessccesecsseeessceceseesseeesseessneessnees 176 Jump starting diesel batteries 2 0 0 0 eescceescesseeesseeeeseeesseeeeseeeeees 176 Getting Started on a Frosty Morning cccscssseeseeseeesseeseeeseesseeseeeeees 178 Block heater S ninos e a ousdest R N R A 178 Battery war met Sciencen ten a a aie 179 OIFWar Mers a on tet E E aE a ES 179 What not to do on a frosty MOrning ssesesesesesesssssssserseeesressressrese 179 Finding a Reliable Diesel Mechanic cccceesseeeseeeeseeeeseeeeseeceseeenseeenees 180 Chapter 10 From Horses to Hybrids Alternatively Powered Vehicles 0 ceeeeeeeaee 181 Ethanol seere eeo uaea EEE EEE EE EEEE EE aad 182 Flex fuel Vehicles n T E ean O E TE ER 183 Hybrids 4 dsceveneds cated a dsesvenaca
52. escedecesdtesseeeseiacevua tectest cestesudevtadestvaresetstedecutes 461 Checking bodywork ccccsccessssssescesscceseeeeceseceseceeeeseeseesseesseeeseenees 462 Part VII The Part of Tenses 403 Chapter 25 The Ten Most Important Preventive Maintenance Measures cccceeee eee eee eeeeee 465 Change the Oil Frequently and Regularly cccccesseeseeseeeseeeseeseeeseees 465 Do a Monthly Under the Hood Che ck ccccescssseseeseeessesseeeseesseeseeeseees 466 Check the Tire Inflation and Alignment ccccseeseesceseeeseeeeeseeeseees 466 Keep the Interior Clean ccescssscsssesssesssessessecessecsscsseesseesaesssessseesseeseees 466 Wash the Vehicle Frequently and Keep It Out of the Sun 467 Get Rid Of RUStins siisdsiienesionhhlaietnavde id Min deine 467 xxii Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Change the Filters zrs neea eR AE E EEA A cee eee eee ed 467 Change the Coolant sseccscseiideeasecsens EEA REER E 468 Lubricate the Moving and Rubber Parts c ccsccsssseessseeeseeeeseeesseeeeees 468 Get Scheduled Maintenance to Keep Warranties Valid ccseee 468 Chapter 26 Ten Eco Logical Ways to Save Fuel 469 Take a Look under the HOO eee eeseescesseeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeaeeeseceaeeeneeneeeeees 469 Start Up without Warming Up cccecsccssessecssesessceseesecesseeseeeeeeseesseeeees 470 Drive Eco Logical yeeie iiai rora ara rer EE ER EE R 471 Stru
53. eseeseeseeeesseeseeeseenaes 318 PY P SrOl bia E E E E A A EN 318 Passenger vehicles ee eaae eE A E E E RS 318 Tires fOr trucksand SUVS ie a csccb in e EAEE E EAEE 319 Specialized Tire Systems ccccsscssscsssessscssccscesscssscsssessessaesseesseessesseees 320 RUN flat ETES pe rora oee EE e E EER E RE RE RT Ra 320 Low pressure warning SYSTEMS e ssesssesssesseeseessresssesssersreseressessee 321 Self inflating tire systems 0 cccecscessesscssscessceeesseeseceseesssesseeeseenees 322 Tips for Buying TireSemiineros oirinn tiea tac EAE E aE i as 322 Caring for Your Tires isise eein R E AE TE ENEA SS ETAS Reais 324 Checking tire inflation pressure cccscccsscesseeeesseeseeesseeseeeseenees 324 Adding air to your tires eseesssesseeseeeseesssessreseressessseesseeseeesressressrese 327 Rotating your tires 0 0 cee cescccescesseeceseeesseeeseecseeesecsesseecsseeeeseessnees 327 Balancing your Wheels ccccccsssecsseeesseceseeeeseeessseesseeesseeessssessnees 329 Aligning your wWheels ccccccssccsssscssseeseseeeeseessseeceseeesseecsseeesseeenees 329 Checking your tires for WEAY cccccccseesccessceseceseesseeseeeseeeseeeseenees 332 Dealing with Defective Tires 0 ccccccccsssscssseceeseceeseeseeecsseeesseecsseeesseeesees 334 Table of Contents Chapter 18 Take the Drive Train Understanding and Maintaining Your Transmission without Losing Your Mind 335 Th
54. for always being there for me Rosemarie Kitchin for the support intelligence leads and loving friendship that have been mainstays in my life for over 30 years Dave Steventon of the Canadian Automobile Association for your friendship and guidance through every edition of this book Marilyn Levak for your generosity and skill in organizing more than five years of Internet files and newspaper clippings for this edition Joanne Steventon for researching and obtaining scrap art for this book Don Donesley my first automotive guru whose classes and advice made the original edition possible Thanks for introducing me to three of the finest things in life cars beer and the Mojave Desert The old Thursday Evening Auto Class at Uni High who shared ideas tools and elbow grease served as guinea pigs and got it all together over beer and pizza afterward Lindsay Lefevere Acquisitions Editor and Alissa Schwipps Senior Project Editor for their heroic efforts and sensitivity from the planning stages right through to publication Elizabeth Rea Senior Copy Editor for her sharp eyes and feel for style Tracy Barr Editor and Bob Freudenberger Technical Consultant for shepherding the book through a last minute review Janet Wahlfeldt and Thomas Brucker Technical Illustrator Precision Graphics for simple clear illustrations of complex automotive systems and the entire Wiley Composition Services crew who worked so long and
55. h or pull it until you hear the hood pop open If the hood release is at the front look around and through the grill and feel under the grill and behind the bumper to 8 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle itd N find a handle lever arm or button Then press push or pull it from front to back and side to side until it releases the hood The hood will open a little but it will probably be stopped by the safety catch a metal lever that when pressed one way or the other releases the hood so that it can open all the way This gizmo prevents the hood from opening accidentally and obscuring your vision while you re driving 2 With one hand raise the hood as far as it will go With the other hand feel along the area between the hood and the grill for the safety catch Release it and raise the hood the rest of the way 3 Secure the hood if necessary If the hood stays up all by itself fine If it doesn t look for a hood prop a long thin metal rod attached either to the underside of the hood or to the bottom edge of the hood opening Either lower or lift the rod depending on where it s located and fit the end of it into the slot that s provided to hold it in place On some vehicles the hood is held up by two gas pressurized cylinders known as hood shocks If the hood doesn t feel secure gas may have leaked out of these units and the hood could come down at any moment If you re not sure secure the hood
56. hard on this edi tion May the Fonts be with you And finally thanks to Tweety Bird faithful Mustang who survived all the experiments and mistakes and grew up to be a fine car and a worthy steed to Honeybun my dream car come true and to Esmerelda my lovely Prius What s So Special about Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition This book is designed for people who think that anything technical will make their brains shut like garage doors who sincerely care about how their vehicles affect the environment and although they believe they can t work on their cars themselves and wouldn t like it if they could are willing to give it a try How do I know that it will work for these reluctant readers Because it s written by a genuine certified ex Dummy who has found that despite total ignorance and a complete lack of manual dexterity getting personally involved with a vehicle is enjoyable rewarding and easy Believe me If I can do it so can you It Is Not Written for Confirmed Do It Yourselfers It Is for You If You have never held a wrench You are positive that in your case manual labor can lead only to disaster You haven t the vaguest idea of how a car works You have failed shop or arts and crafts You believe that if you do something wrong your car can blow up To Enjoy This Book It Would Help If You don t believe that working on your vehicle can possibly be fun but you re willing to give it a
57. hat you jacked up the car and blocked it securely the vehicle can do a lot of damage to itself and to you if it falls This is not meant to frighten you away from jacking up your car and working on or under it It s just to emphasize the fact that taking a few simple precautions can keep you safe After you ve observed all the safety precautions follow these steps to jack up a vehicle 1 If you re going to remove a wheel to change a tire or check your brakes remove the wheel cover or hubcap if there is one and loosen the lug nuts After the vehicle is jacked up the wheel will turn freely which makes it harder to get a wheel cover off and almost impossible to start turning the nuts Instructions for removing a wheel cover and loosening lug nuts are in the next section How to Change a Tire 2 Place the jack under the part of the vehicle that it should contact when raised If you re using jack stands place them near the jack Where you place your jack depends on whether you re planning to doa one wheel job such as tire changing or brake checking or a two wheel whole end repair job Many vehicles now have special flat spots on the underside specifically for jack placement If you place your jack incorrectly you can injure your car To find the proper place to position the jack for your particular vehicle check your owner s manual If you don t have a manual ask the service depart ment at your deale
58. iOns cccccssccsssccescsesssecssceeseseesseesseessssesesees 6 Part V Staying Safe and Dealing with Emergencies c eeee 6 Part VI Helping Your Vehicle Look Its Best ccececsseesteeeeeeeees 6 Part VI The Part Of Tens tcssccscccecsesecses ceveses a ET 7 APPendixesyss 2 0s ieacecanechee aden etn orad Gna es 7 Icons Us d in This BOOK srce sivas ue une sleesbiiten beeen 7 Where to Go from Her e cccccssccssessscssseesseseessesssessacesscesscsseesssesseesseesaeenaes 8 Part I Getting to Know Vour Vehicle 1ccccccccscccsceccseeeeeeY Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know 11 Before You Tackle Any JOD ccccccsssscessecsseeesseeceseeesseeeseseesseeeseseeeseeseeees 12 Buying the right parts for your Vehicle cceessccestseeeteeesseeeseeees 13 Following safety rules ccccccccccsssscsssscsseeeesecesseecsseeesseeessesesseeessneees 14 How to Fill Er Up Yourself ssnin a aA as 15 How to Open the HOO cccccssscsssesssesssesssesscesseessecsscceessecsaesssesseeeseesssesees 17 How to Take Anything Apart and Get It Back Together Again 18 How to Use a Jack Safely c ccccccssccsscsssesssessecsssessecsseesesesscsssesssenseessesseeeees 20 How to Change a Tire cceeccesscesscsseesseesseeseessecesecsesceseeseeeseceseesseenseenseeseeeees 23 Removing a wheel cover Or NUDCAaD cccscccesceseseeeseeeesseeesseesseeees 24
59. illed You ll be happy to know it doesn t require any special tools I provide a Maintenance Record in Appendix B Make a copy for each of your vehicles to keep track of what you check and what you replace each time you do an under the hood checkup Appendix B also contains a Specifications Record to avoid having to return parts that don t fit your vehicle make a copy of this spec sheet for each of your vehicles fill in the appropriate part num bers and keep it in the glove box so that you have it whenever you buy parts 30 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle MBER et amp Whenever you encounter a term set in this font you ll find it defined in the glossary in Appendix A Getting Vour Bearings under the Hood Once a month in the morning before you ve driven your vehicle arm your self with a clean lint free rag and the household tools mentioned in this chap ter and open the hood of your vehicle If you ve never done that flip back to Chapter 1 Then check the items in the sections that follow The checkup may take a bit longer the first time you do it but after that you should be able to whip through this check in about 15 minutes As a matter of fact you may want to grab this book and your owner s manual if you have one go out to your vehicle and locate each part while you read Figure 2 1 helps you find each part Make a game of it Enjoy When you do the check for real if you find that the c
60. ing Vour Vehicle Look Its Best 1 1c0000 427 Chapter 23 Keeping Your Vehicle Clean and Beautiful ceeceeseeseeteeteeteeeeeeeees 429 Chapter 24 Bodywork Getting Rid of Dings Dents and Other Hard Knocks 449 Part VII The Part of Tens accses 463 Chapter 25 The Ten Most Important Preventive Maintenance Measure 465 Chapter 26 Ten Eco Logical Ways to Save Fuel ccecceseesseeseeesseesseeeeesseseeeseees 469 Appendix A A Practical Glossary of Automotive TORING cic scccssaceaesiics sitasvenasdecssacdedetvadectssties 475 Appendix B Specifications and Maintenance Records cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccceeccccceees 507 Table of Contents IMGOAUETIONS Atcha ee ih aed About This Bookeicicccccscii cee eit ted Sen een edd ata 1 How I Became Intimately Involved with My Car and Why You Should TOO ipsini a aa 2 Conventions Used in This Book ccccecssscssseeseneceeseeseseeeeseeeeseeesseeesseeeeses 3 Howl Picture YOus i 4 secniies nitive tet eel ain eae aaa 4 How This Book Is Organized ccccssssssessscesseesecesesesecsseeseceseesseeeeesseseeeeeeees 4 Part I Getting to Know Your Vehicle cccccscesceseeseeseeeseeeseeeseennes 5 Part II Powering Up with Air Fuel and Fire 0 0 0 0 cccecssseeseeeeeeees 5 Part III Staying Cool and In Control cccceseessceseeseeeseeeseeeseeeseeeaes 5 Part IV Smoothing the Ride Steering and Suspension Tires and TransMiss
61. ir Conditioners ccceeccesscessceseeeseesssceseesecensessecsseesseeeaeeeees 231 Chapter 13 Oil Keeping Your Car Young and Happy 233 How Oil Benefits Your Vehicle cccccescescesseeseeseeseeeeeeeeeeseseeseeseeseesees 234 Oil cools the CNgGiNe ccescesccesssseesccesecesecessceseceeceseeesseesseseesseeeaes 234 Oil keeps your engine clean 0 ee eesceseesecessceseeesecsseeseeessesseeeseenees 234 Oil cuts down ON FICTION ee eecceeceeeeeceeceeseeseesceseeeeeseeseeseeseesees 234 Oil retards COrrosiOn enor ees aiied Bie Bee lbs econ 235 Table of Contents XU What You Should Know about Oil 0 0 eee eeeeeseeeeteeseeseeeeeeeeeseeseeeeneeaes 235 Oil Additives cic ee Rohe a ohare iain a EE ew tants 236 VISCOSILY ratings sessi earet i cox a EE E R E EARE 236 Oil classification codes s sessesesesseseseessseesrsssessrsesresrsesresrseseeseseseese 237 Syntheti Coils ea E ee ES 238 Choosing the Right Oil for Your Vehicle ccceseeseeseeseeeseeeeeseeeseees 238 How Often You Should Change Your Oil ccccccessesseeseeseeesseseeseeeseees 240 How to Change Your Oil Yourself ccccccccscsseeessseeeseeesseseceseesseeeeeeseees 241 Get your supplies together ccccccsessessecessceseesseeseeessesseeseesseeees 242 Do the job systematically ccc ccssccsssecssceessseeeseeesseeesseeesseessnees 244 Clean up spilled oil thoroughly ccceecceseesceeeesseesseessesseeeseenees 24
62. lized equipment to deal with them The upside is that these vehicles usually need fewer repairs and there are much greater intervals between basic maintenance tasks most of which are still easily done yourself The same goes for making a variety of minor repairs and adjustments Unlike professional mechanics when you do the troubleshooting that s CarSpeak for diagnosing a problem by analyzing the symptoms you can try the cheaper solutions first For example if your engine has been overheating constantly you check the radiator cap and the coolant level look for leaks in the hoses and check the thermostat before paying for a new water pump If it s the cap a hose or the thermostat you may be able to easily replace it yourself and the money you ll save is well worth the effort If it finally comes down to changing the water pump you can ask the mechanic about installing a good rebuilt pump instead of an expensive new one With this book as your guide to how cars work you may discover that your vehicle stops being a mystery and begins to be fun to hang around with When you realize that a vehicle exhibits most of the symptoms of life it s self propelled reacts to outside stimuli consumes fuel and discharges wastes and even manages to sing a little tune now and then it s really hard not to respond to it as though it were another living thing Conventions Used in This Book The following conventions are used throughout
63. n it s time for maintenance or if you need to figure out what s gone wrong on the road If this book turns you on to automotive systems and repair then by all means extend your knowledge by reading more and more sophisticated literature on your favorite automotive topics But there s no substitute for hands on expe rience You won t be able to realize any of your goals unless you stop pro crastinating and start working If you re feeling timid about actually touching your vehicle s inner parts try doing something simple like checking the oil dipstick or changing the air filter I hope that you find it as exhilarating as I did and I know that your car will love you for it May you and your vehicle have a long and happy life together Part Getting to Know Your Vehicle The 5th Wave By Rich Tennant after I turn her off B Em et _ ale In this part Ee seen someone try to figure out how to open a can of sardines They have the key in one hand the can in the other and they poke prod and pry until they finally decide that saltines alone are fine If you ve ever tried to open the hood of your vehicle or jack it up with out the benefit of prior experience or paying attention when someone else did it you may feel as confused as the sardine lovers seem That s why this part covers the things every driver should be able to do safety tips that everyone who works on cars should know and the tool
64. ng coolant out of the mouths of babes and small animals 20 0 eee eescenecenceseeseeceneeeseeeseeeneenees 213 Flushing the systemi isinin a E 215 Finding Leaks in the Cooling System ccceccessesssesceesseesseeseeeeesseeeeees 216 Look under your Vehicle cccscccessceesseesseeesseeeesseesseeesseeessneessnees 217 Check the radiator oeiee aneri tisestal assess Aea TERESAS 218 Check the PreSSure Cap sccsscssscsssesssesseesessseesscesscessesssessseseeesaeesaes 218 Check th NOSES ssseis cvden de sed eedeaddes saves nosh or E E ER 218 Buying and Replacing Hoses and Hose Clamps c ccsscesseeseeteeeeeeees 219 Buying the right hose eessccsseseseeeeseecsseecsseecessecsseeessseesseessnees 220 Buying and replacing hose clamps ccssccsssesseseeseeeseesenseesnees 222 Replacing HOSES eiennenn E E A ERs 223 Repairing Leaks in the Cooling System cccceccssseseesscesseeseesseesseeeeees 225 Radiatorleaks 0 ihi cswennian hwnd aad nd ken omens 225 Leaks in the engine block Core plugs cccecesecessceesteeestsesseeeesnees 226 Intermalleaks jit faci ce ise Aue See ea 227 Leaky Water pump 2200000 dsseevedtee ad aa a 228 Locating leaks by pressure testing the cooling system 228 Adjusting and Replacing Accessory Belts cccccccssssseesteesseesseeseeeseeeees 229 Replacing Your Thermostat c ccccsccsssscssseceesseeeseeseseeceseeeeseeesseeesseeesees 230 Servicing A
65. oolant oil transmis sion brake or power steering fluid levels are low fill them to the proper levels and check again in a couple of days If any of them are low again visit a mechanic to find out why you re losing fluid and correct the problem Power steering fluid reservoir Coolant reservoir Windshield washer Lo fluid reservoir K Belts pae a Engine oil filler cap Figure 2 1 Where to find parts under the hood To find out how to dispose of hazardous materials like batteries and the fluids in automotive systems visit www 1800cleanup org default asp Just insert your zip code in the search box to find recycling centers in your area for many kinds of toxic materials If you don t have access to the Internet ask your local auto shop if they will accept your hazardous materials for recycling Chapter 2 Preventive Maintenance A Monthly Under the Hood Check 3 Check the Air Filter In most newer fuel injected vehicles the air filter is found inside a rectangu lar box called a cold air collector box see Figure 2 2 It s usually close to the front of the vehicle near the inside of one of the fenders Air that s scooped up by the front of the vehicle moves through an air intake tube into the air filter inside the box see Figure 2 2 On older fuel injected engines and carbureted engines the filter is found in the air cleaner which sits atop the engine As you can see in Figure 2 3 it s large and
66. ot accustomed to lifting heavy things After you have the spare tire in place replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand Give each lug nut a jolt with the wrench to get it firmly into place but wait until the car is on the ground before you really try to tighten the lug nuts Replace the jack use it to lift the vehicle off the jack stands and lower the car to the ground After the vehicle is resting on the ground use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can If your vehicle has alloy wheels tighten the lug nuts until the lug wrench won t move any more then press down on the wrench s cross arm with all your weight but don t jerk it or kick it or jump on it as you could cause the wrench to damage the finish on the nut Standard lug nuts are sturdier than those on alloy wheels but you don t want to twist them off the bolts or ruin the threads However you don t want the wheel to fall off either If you re worried about tightening them Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know ito ar sufficiently use your hollow pipe or step on the right hand arm of the lug wrench after the nut is tight 8 Replace the wheel cover or hubcap If your car has wheel covers with a delicate finish the owner s manual should provide instructions for replacing it If not reverse the order of things you did when removing it if you had to pry it off then it probably pops back in with a sharp
67. ough to do 1 Secure the vehicle so that it won t roll N a a A Ww Jack up the vehicle following the instructions in the preceding sec tion How to Use a Jack Safely Remove the old tire Put on the new tire Put away the jack stuff and the old tire Drive happily into the sunset 24 Part l Getting to Know Your Vehicle ar ytlON T These may be the basic steps of changing a tire but the job can get sticky in a couple of places if you re not properly equipped The following sections explain the steps involved in changing a tire in detail and in order Check out Chapter 3 for a list of the tools you need Because the location and type of spare tire differs from one vehicle to the next if you aren t familiar with your vehicle it s a good idea to check out the spare and the jack and lug wrench before trouble occurs While you re at it make sure the spare has enough air in it and continue to check that periodically Removing a wheel cover or hubcap The first task in changing a flat is to remove the wheel cover or hubcap on the injured tire The following steps tell you how 1 If your car has a standard wheel cover or hubcap use a screwdriver or the flat end of a lug wrench see Figure 3 16 in Chapter 3 to pry it off Just insert the point of the tool where the edge of the cover meets the wheel and apply a little leverage see Figure 1 3 The cap should pop off You may ha
68. p If you have the old style door locks with little buttons on the window ledge straighten a wire coat hanger and bend the end into a little hook Insert it between the rubber molding and the side window and then carefully hook it around the door button and pull it up If you have smooth buttons you can try to hook one using the hanger technique but most will refuse to budge If you happen to lock yourself out of the vehicle while you have the trunk open you may be able to move the rear seat out of the way and gain access to the rear of the car or you can hide an extra ignition key in the trunk If you need professional help call emergency road assistance and ask if they will be able to open the door If not ask them to send a local locksmith The good news is that each car key is coded by the auto manufacturer and if you have the key code number and personal identification a locksmith can make you anew key Write down the key code number and leave it where someone at home can read it to you in an emergency Also record it without identify ing what it is in your pocket address book or in your wallet before you lose your keys If you bought the vehicle new or used from a dealer the dealer may still have the number on file or the automaker may have a record of it Failing that a good locksmith may be able to analyze a key in fairly new con dition and come up with the proper code for it Chapter 2 Preventive Maintenance A
69. r break while you re under the car A jack can do the same thing so be sure to buy a pair of jack stands and stow them in the trunk if you re traveling out of reach of help if you get a flat tire You can find information about buying jack stands in Chapter 3 5 Before you begin to work wiggle the vehicle a little to make sure that it s resting securely on the jack stands Then remove the jack Wiggling the vehicle also tells you whether you have the wheels blocked properly It s better if the vehicle falls while all four wheels are in place it will bounce just a little Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know 23 Figure 1 2 Jack stands hold your vehicle up safely 6 When you re finished working replace the jack remove the stands and lower the vehicle to the ground If you re using a scissor jack simply turn the crank in the opposite direc tion If you re using a hydraulic jack use the rod to turn the pressure release valve The jack will do the rest of the work for you How to Change a Tire These days working on your vehicle at roadside can be risky so the best thing is to use your cellphone to call an automobile association or another source of help But if you have a flat tire in an area where you can t get a cell phone signal you can be helpless unless you know how to change a tire your self For this reason everyone should have a general idea of what s involved The task seems easy en
70. r help without your assis tance when your car is disabled or stolen It shows you how to decipher such symptoms as weird noises smoke smells and leaks to determine what s wrong I also share what to do to get off the road safely jump a start and cool things down if your car overheats in traffic If a job is just too hairy to deal with yourself I tell you how to find a reliable service facility and establish a good relationship with it describe a problem so a mechanic can diagnose it swiftly and accurately decipher a mechanic s invoice and get satisfaction on complaints if despite your best efforts you run into problems with anything you buy Part V1 Helping Vour Vehicle Look Its Best Because keeping a vehicle clean inside and out can extend its life and value in this part I cover washing and waxing the body tidying up under the hood cleaning the interior and removing stains from fabric carpeting windows and other surfaces If your vehicle has suffered minor damage I show you how to repair small dings dents and rust spots touch up paint and patch or install weatherstripping instead of paying big bucks for body shops to do it If major work needs to be done I tell you how to choose the right type of parts and how to evaluate body shops and get the best deal and highest quality work from them Introduction Part VII The Part of Tens This part can save you money time and sanity It lists the most import
71. registered trademarks of John Wiley amp Sons Inc and or its affiliates in the United States and other countries and may not be used without written permission All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Wiley Publishing Inc is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book LIMIT OF LIABILITY DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REP RESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CON TENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE NO WARRANTY MAY BE CRE ATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CON TAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL ACCOUNTING OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUR THER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFOR MATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE FURTHER READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK M
72. rship to show you the proper placement In any event follow these guidelines e Never place the jack so that the weight of the vehicle rests on something that can bend break or give 21 22 Part Getting to Know Your Vehicle e If your manual is incomprehensible or lacks jack placement infor mation try to place the jack so that it touches either the vehicle s frame or the big bar that supports the front wheel suspension e You can also place jacks near the rear wheel axle but until you become more proficient at this I d stick to jacking up one wheel at a time 3 Lift the vehicle by using the jack How you accomplish this depends on the type of jack you re using see Figure 1 1 e If you have a scissor jack insert the rod or wrench over the knob and then crank e If you have a hydraulic jack place the handle into the appropriate location and pump up and down Use nice even strokes taking the jack handle from its lowest point to its highest point on each stroke to cut down on the labor involved Figure 1 1 A scissor jack a and a hydraulic jack b 4 Place the jack stands under the vehicle near where the jack is touch ing it see Figure 1 2 Raise the stands until they re high enough to just fit under and lock them in place Lower the jack until the vehicle is resting on the jack stands ytlON Substituting boxes stones or bricks for jack stands is very dangerous Y They can slip out o
73. s you can use to get your vehicle running smoothly again You find out how to buy the right auto part on your first trip to the store and how to do a monthly under the hood check that can prevent breakdowns on the road by 70 percent Finally I take a quick trip through all the automotive systems involved in operating your vehicle to show you what each one does how it does it and how they relate to one another Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know In This Chapter Knowing when to do it yourself Paying attention to safety Filling the tank yourself Getting under the hood Taking things apart and putting them back together again Jacking up a vehicle and changing a tire safely Getting into your car when you lock yourself out MBER et amp you re not particularly mechanically inclined you may watch those who are with admiration amazement and exasperation because they have something you don t an understanding of how things work and how things fit together When they take something apart they can reassemble it the way it was When they say that they want to take a look under the hood they can actually get the darn thing open And when they need to change a flat they don t spend ten minutes trying to figure out which end of the jack is up The good news is that you don t have to be born with a wrench in your hand to know how to fix things even things as seemingly complicated as a car I know I
74. sceeeeseeesseeesseeceeeesseecsseeesseeeeees 148 Deciding whether to change a fuel filter yourself eee 149 Locating the fuel filter ee ececcescessceesseeesseeesseeesseeesseeesseessnees 149 Replacing a fuel filter ccccccescsssessscssscssesssecsscesscessesssesssesseesaeesaes 151 Replacing an insert in a fuel filter 0 eee ceseeeteeseeeseeeseeeseeeees 151 Servicing the PCV Val tsn erani n a a a 152 Locating the PCV ValVe c ccsscsssssssesssessssesecscesscessesseessseseeeseeenaes 152 Checking the PCV vallVe ccccssccssesssessscsseessessscesscessesssesssesseeseeesaes 153 Removing and replacing the PCV Valve ceccessessessseesseeseeeeeeees 154 Cleaning the PCV valVe c ccsscssscsssesssessecssessseesscesscsssesssesaseseeenees 155 Troubleshooting Catalytic Converters cceccessssseseeesseeseceseeeseeseeeneees 155 Checking the Compression in the Cylinders ccescesseessceseeeteeseeseees 156 What to Do When All Else Fails 20 0 0 cccccceceesscessceeceseeseeeseesseesseesseeeseenaes 159 Chapter 9 Diesels For Dummies 20 20ceeeeeeeaee 161 Clean Diesels Nontoxic Newcomers cccsccssssseesseeseeesseeseceseeeseeseeeeees 161 The Pros and Cons of Diesels ccscsscssscesscesscssseeseeseeessessaeesseesseessess 162 What Makes It Go ninnan iensen oi n aiii 164 Table of Contents KV Ehe Fuel Sy Sten seeren etree N E E ee Tae aoa oak ced Deane Reese we
75. seenees 424 Part VI Helping Vour Vehicle Look Its Best 427 Chapter 23 Keeping Your Vehicle Clean and Beautiful 429 Environmentally Safe Ways to Clean Your Vehicle ceccsseceteerees 430 Cleaning the Exterior cccccccesccesscesscsseesscessesseessceesecesecesecesecesecsseeeeseseees 431 De bugging your vehicle safely ccccssccsssecssseesssesseeesseessteeesnees 431 Washing your vehicle s body c cccscesescssseeesseeeesseesseeesseeesseeeeees 432 Table of Contents xxi Restoring visibility to windows and mirrors ce eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 434 Polishing metal trim and Chrome ccceseescesseeeesseeseeeseeeeesseeeees 435 Caring for wheels and tires ccccccsccesscesseeseceseesscessceseeeseeeseenseenees 436 Cleaning and repairing convertible tops cccccssessseeseeseeereeeees 436 Cleaning and polishing your Vehicle ccccceseesseesseesseeseeeeeeeees 438 Waxing your vehicle ic oe dion iE e i ES 440 Cleaning under the Hood ccccccscesscsssesscessecseceseeeseceseesseceseceseeeseeseeeeees 441 Cleaning the Interior renon hn E E E E S S 442 Keeping things tidy 0 0 0 cccccecessessseccsseeeescecsseeeseeeesseesseeesseeessseessnees 443 Cleaning upholstery and Carpeting ccccccseesseeseesseessesseceeeeees 444 Fighting stains and odors cccccsssesssesseessceseeeseesseessseseessseseceseeaes 445 Repairing tears and holles
76. ssscesecssceeeseessseessneesseesseeeseeess 288 Checking Anti Lock Brakes 0 ccccccsccessesssesseesceeseeeseeeseceseeesecesecsseeseeeseees 289 Part IV Smoothing the Ride Steering and Suspension Tires and Transmissions ccccccccccccccceeeeeees2 9 Chapter 16 Steering and Suspension Systems Smooth the Way 293 The Steering System cc ceccesccessesseesscssscescessecssesseeceseeseeeecsseceseceseesseeeees 293 The steering linkage ccccessessssecsseceesceesseecssceesseecsseeesseeessseeesnees 294 Power Steering SYStEMS cccccssccsssesscesscesscessseseceseesseseesssesseeeseesass 295 Checking your Steering ccccccssccsscesscesscesscesecsseesseeseesseesseeeseenees 299 SUSPENSION SYSTEMS nesese Ee ROERE T aR aS 300 Major parts of the suspension system cccceeeseestseestseeeeeesnees 301 Types Of suspensions sonona reaa A E iiS 307 Chapter 17 How to Keep Your Car from Getting Sore Feet Tires Alignment and Balancing cccceeee eens 311 Tire CONSUHUCKION ssiecesecdccoesscscadeeedeesstedecseend AE EE EE TE eons 312 The Secrets on Your Sidewalls Revealed ccesescccsssscsseesssceeseees 314 TIPE lt COGES 2s ae e T aiadas EE aKa AEE te nae tease hates 314 Speed ratih gS ivi aen WE Resta E T E Re 315 DOT identification and registration cceseeseestsesseesseeseeeseeeees 316 Tire Quality grade COdES narinaa E i Eas 317 Other sidewall information ccceesscesscesscesee
77. sssessesseeseeseeseeeeeeeeeeseeseeseeseesees 378 Electronic Stability Control ESC ccccsccesesseeseeeeeeseeseeeeeeeeeseeseeneeseesees 379 Rollover Stability Control RSC cccscesesseesesseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeseseeseeeeeesees 381 Adaptive Cruise Control ACC cceceesesssesceseceeeeeeeseeseeseeseeaeeneenseeseeaeeaes 382 Telematics How Cars Communicate ceccecceseeseeteeseeseeeseeeeeseeseeaeeseesees 383 Navigation SYStEMS cccsccsescessseseseeeeseceeecscecsssecsseeesseeessnsessnees 383 PACKINGS VStOMS tosis cessed cs seth wcaches EEE e E 384 Kix xX Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Chapter 20 Troubleshooting Leaks Squeaks Smells and Strange Sensations 000 cee ee ee eeees 385 STONE aTa CAE TEENE eeu E E E E 386 Squeaks Rattles and Vibrations cccsecscsssesssesseeseeesscsseceeesseesseeseees 389 Siaa E E E T E E E E E E S 390 SMOKE neir n a E E E 392 TRG AKS otic Sots covines o eee A lead I A E E A E A O E a 393 Strange Sensati hs nerian eee n R E E E EiS 395 Directional Signal Si rn a E a AE AR 396 Chapter 21 What to Do If Your Car Drops Dead or Won t Start 397 Getting Off the Road Safely ccc cccccscssscssseseessessssesseesecesecssecesecsseeseeeeees 397 Troubleshooting the Problem ccccccsccsssseeeseeeeneceeeeeeseeeeseecsseeesseeesees 400 PAY E heg hens eee dats AV E ae ee eR 400 FUG is tits te ate ah ee ae a ee 401 PIT E E E E EEA E ONE EEA
78. t you read the chapter that deals with the system you want to work on before you head for the chapter that tells you how to do a specific job The following sections describe the information that you can find in each part Part I Getting to Know Vour Vehicle If you want the basics this is the part for you I cover things that everyone who drives should know like how to decide whether you want to do a job yourself how to get the hood open how to use a jack and change a tire and how to take anything apart and put it back together again A monthly under the hood check that can prevent 70 percent of highway breakdowns will transform you from an I can t do it myselfer into a hands on mechanic I also describe the tools that you ll need to borrow or buy if you plan to do reg ular maintenance and simple repairs Finally a quick and simple run through of how basic automotive systems work together gives you the confidence to explore further because what was once a mystery is now familiar territory Part Il Powering Up with Air Fuel and Fire This part provides a closer look at the electrical and fuel systems in vehicles with internal combustion engines and tells you how to do simple jobs related to each one If you own or would like to own an alternatively fueled vehicle you ll find information on how diesel hybrid multifuel natural gas and hydrogen vehicles work descriptions of a variety of alternative fuels and the advantages
79. ther people do things for you that you can do yourself You re tired of other people assuming especially if you re a teenager a senior or a woman that you aren t capable of handling repairs yourself 1 You want to keep a good vehicle in good condition without paying dearly to have someone else do the simple maintenance or you want to keep your old heap running just a little longer without spending a lot of money on it You want to maintain your vehicle without devoting every weekend weeknight and spare lunch hour to poring over the intricacies details and mysteries of the internal combustion engine 1 You ve realized I hope that a vehicle that runs inefficiently because it s poorly maintained or is running on fossil fuel pollutes the environment and you want to do something to turn that around How This Book Is Organized Basically this book covers everything you need to know to understand care for maintain and troubleshoot your vehicle or choose a new more efficient and safer one You ll be relieved to know that I explain everything in everyday terms with no jargon no unnecessary technical details and lots of simple illustrations Introduction To help you find information easily this book is divided into seven parts each containing chapters that deal with a particular topic Because the key to doing any job is to understand what you re working on and how it functions I strongly recommend tha
80. to remove and install a battery 0 0 0 0 ccececsscesssesssseeeneeesnees 115 Changing FUSES eves ER T ERA E 116 Blad ty pe fuses n Lren E a iS R TLRS 118 Tubular fuses ar Ee EEA ER EEE E EKE R 118 Dealing with Headlights and Directional Signals s sseseeeeeeeseeeeeesesee 119 Troubleshooting headlights cccceessccesceesseeeseeesseeesseeesseeessnees 119 Determining which headlights you have c cccsccssssessseeeteeenees 119 Replacing and adjusting halogen and Xenon headlamp 120 Replacing and adjusting sealed beam headlights 006 121 Checking headlight alignment ccccsccescesseseeeseeseeesseeseeeseenes 122 Replacing directional signals cccccscccsssecesceeessessceesseesseeessees 123 XIV Auto Repair For Dummies 2nd Edition Chapter 7 The Traditional Fuel System The Heart and Lungs of Your Car 00 0 eee cece 125 Basic Fuel System Components ccccesscsssesseesceeeseeseeeseeeseesseesseesseeeees 126 Pucehtamnkrics s5scessssatbes e an eee a ARE EKAS E EREE ARETAS 126 Fuel lines and fuel pump s s sessssssssssssesssesssesssessreseesssesssesseseressesssessse 127 Fuel filters ienna ia a a a e e e a 128 Cold air collector box and air filter ee eeseeseesseeseeeseeeeeees 129 The intake and exhaust manifolds cccecssesssseesteeeetsesseeeesnees 129 The fuel air Mixtures oss csescccsvsxbieesenedes svi hesvoenk cds eel ie
81. trigger latch gives you time to take advantage of the other services available You can wash the windows or check the air pressure in your tires and add air if they need it Chapter 17 has instructions The trigger latch also enables you to get farther away from the pump instead of standing there breathing in the toxic fumes while the tank is filling 7 When the fuel stops flowing the trigger clicks closed and the numbers in the pump window stop moving Remove the nozzle from the fuel tank and hang it back on the pump Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know 7 Never top off a tank by adding fuel after the pump shuts off automati cally If you overfill your tank the fuel may overflow the fill hole or leak out onto the road through an overflow outlet This is not just a waste of your money spilled fuel ruins asphalt pollutes the air and is a fire hazard This kind of leakage is especially prone to happen if it s a hot day because heat makes the fuel in your tank expand 8 If you used a credit card press Yes for a receipt and replace the cap on your fuel tank while the receipt prints How to Open the Hood How can you do even simple under the hood jobs such as checking the oil coolant and transmission fluid refilling windshield wiper fluid and checking accessory belts if you don t know how to get the hood of your vehicle open The good news is that opening the hood is easy and uncomplicated if you
82. trouble I m not necessarily talking about physical danger State motor vehicle bureaus have made fairly sure that before we can get a driver s license we know how to drive defensively and can handle a vehicle under poor driving conditions What I m referring to is the kind of trouble that comes from depending on other people to care for and repair our vehicles If you re like most people you probably tend to drive around until something goes wrong and then incur the expense of replacing worn and burned out parts or the entire vehicle when low cost regular maintenance could have kept your wheels turning for a long time Whether you re trying to cut expenses are tired of being patronized or have just fallen in love with your first car this book tells you how your vehicle works what it needs in the way of tender loving care how to reduce its impact on the environment and how to keep from getting ripped off if you have to entrust repairs to someone else By handling the simple maintenance and being able to diagnose trouble and perform the less complex repairs your self you ll earn the respect of your family your mechanic and your car and you ll feel pretty good about it About This Book This new edition is about much more than auto repair In this book I intro duce you to the wonders of the internal combustion engine and to the even more wondrous alternative fuels and alternatively fueled vehicles that reduce d
83. try for any reason whatsoever You are sincerely tired of being ripped off because of your own ignorance Why Is That Enjoyable Because You Will Be Delighted to Find 1 Cars run on principles that are as easy to understand as common sense v You can save a tremendous amount of money extend the life of your vehicle save on fuel and do your bit for the environment if you know more about your car 1 Most of the devices on your vehicle will not hurt you unless you really go out of your way to hurt yourself Here s How Auto Repair For Dummies Accomplishes These Miracles 1 It starts from scratch It even shows you what a screwdriver looks like 1 It explains each system in simple terms before you get to work on it It provides step by step instructions for even the simplest tasks 1 It tells you exactly what you need and how to know if you ve been given the wrong part the wrong diagnosis or an outrageous estimate It Tells You the Truth About 1 What makes your vehicle go and how and why as well 1 How the car you drive how you drive it and maintain it and how you recycle or dispose of used parts and toxic fluids affect fuel economy and global warming 1 The easy work involved in keeping your vehicle well maintained and running efficiently and how to tell what s wrong if trouble strikes 1 How 15 minutes of preventive medicine avoids breakdowns 1 Whether you can handle a problem yourself
84. ut everything was truly shut off And still the car sang By the time I returned all was quiet But that night when I took the family out to dinner old Tweety Bird began to sing again After several weeks of expensive and unsuccessful repairs I found out that all she had needed was an inexpensive radiator cap To my amazement the shop was unwilling to refund the money I d spent on all the other stuff they d tried I realized that it would be impossible to com municate with Tweety properly if I didn t know anything about her and the repair bills were going to send both of us down the drain Introduction 3 So I conned a friend of mine into taking an auto shop class with me at a local adult ed center Instead of a bewildering array of weird objects and miles of hoses that threatened to blow up if I turned a screw in the wrong direction I soon found that a car was just a series of simple mechanisms linked together and that vehicles are very good about sending out signals telling you clearly what s wrong if you know how to hear see smell or feel them Before long it was no longer enough to be able to communicate with a mechanic I wanted to be the mechanic myself whenever possible Not only did I save money but Tweety began running better and I found that not only was I saving money and fuel I was having fun Today vehicles are more complex because computers control many systems and even professional mechanics need specia
85. ve to do this in a couple of places as if you were prying the lid off a can of paint If the cover has a delicate finish con sult your owner s manual for instruc tions on how to remove it without damage It may pry off or unscrew Figure 1 3 You can use a screwdriver to pry a wheel cover 2 Lay the cover down on its back so loose that you can put the lug nuts into it to keep them from rolling away and heading for the nearest sewer If you re afraid of marring the finish lay the cover on a rag After you remove the wheel cover or hubcap the next task is to loosen the lug nuts Loosening the lug nuts Lug nuts are those big nuts that hold the wheel in place How you remove the lug nuts on your vehicle depends on whether you have alloy wheels that are Chapter 1 Things Every Driver Should Know lt 0N ir avr held on by lug nuts with delicate finishes or hubcaps or wheel covers with standard lug nuts behind them Lug nuts with special finishes The delicate aluminum or chrome plated lug nuts on alloy wheels need careful handling They should never be loosened or replaced with power tools that can scratch the delicate finish Some power tools have rubberized or plastic coated fittings to avoid damaging the nuts but those will be of no use to you on the road with no power supply to run them Many mechanics prefer to do it all by hand using a special lug fitting to avoid scarring the finish or rounding

Auto Repair

Contents

Download Pdf Manuals

Related Search

Related Contents